Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 74

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

मासे भाद्रपदे चैव पद्मरागमयं परम् । आश्विने मासि विद्याद्वै लिंगं गोमेदकं वरम्

Transliteration

māse bhādrapade caiva padmarāgamayaṃ param | āśvine māsi vidyādvai liṃgaṃ gomedakaṃ varam

Translation

在婆陀罗钵陀月（Bhādrapada），应礼拜以莲华红宝（padmarāga，红宝石）所成的至上林伽。于阿湿毗那月（Āśvina），当确知所规定者为以瞿摩陀迦宝（gomedaka，橙榴石）所制的殊胜林伽。

Word by Word

• māse: in the month
• māse: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhādrapade: in Bhādrapada
• bhādrapade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhādrapada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); month-name

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• padmarāgamayam: made of ruby (padmarāga)
• padmarāgamayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: padmarāga + maya (प्रातिपदिक); padmarāga (रत्ननाम) + maya (मय)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying liṅgam; -maya = 'made of'

• param: excellent/supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); superlative sense 'excellent'

• āśvine: in Āśvina
• āśvine: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āśvina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); month-name

• māsi: in the month
• māsi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vidyāt: one should know/should prescribe
• vidyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (विद्, धातु)
• Form: Optative/Potential (विधिलिङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक अव्यय)

• liṅgam: liṅga (Śiva emblem)
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• gomedakam: (made of) gomedaka (hessonite)
• gomedakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gomedaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); gemstone-name used adjectivally for liṅgam

• varam: excellent/choice
• varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes mānasa/ārādhana through accessible, rule-governed liṅga-upāsanā; merit accrues by aligning vrata and worship with prescribed materials and seasons.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Seasonal vrata-regimen keyed to Bhādrapada and Āśvina (cāturmāsya-adjacent ritual calendar context).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches regulated, time-aligned devotion: worship of Śiva’s Saguna form as the Liṅga is harmonized with sacred months, cultivating steadiness (niyama) and receptivity to Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

It prescribes specific material embodiments of the Liṅga (ruby in Bhādrapada, gomedaka in Āśvina), emphasizing that Saguna worship uses consecrated forms and substances to focus bhakti while honoring Śiva as the supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform month-specific Liṅga-pūjā with the prescribed Liṅga material, accompanied by mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and standard Shaiva upacāras such as abhiṣeka, bilva offering, and disciplined observances.