Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

लिङ्ग-बेर-प्रतिष्ठाविधिः / The Procedure for Installing the Liṅga and the Bera

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Devanagari script

ततः श्वभ्रे वृषं हैमं कूर्चं वापि निवेश्य च । मृदंभसा पञ्चगव्यैः पुनः शुद्धजलेन च

Transliteration

tataḥ śvabhre vṛṣaṃ haimaṃ kūrcaṃ vāpi niveśya ca | mṛdaṃbhasā pañcagavyaiḥ punaḥ śuddhajalena ca

Translation

其后，于一坑中安置一头金制公牛；或不然，安置仪式用的kūrca束。随后以土与水净化之，又以牛之五宝（pañcagavya）净化之，并再以清净之水复净一次。

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक (then)

• श्वभ्रे: in a pit
• श्वभ्रे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वभ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वृषम्: a bull
• वृषम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• हैमम्: golden
• हैमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हैम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (वृषम् इति)

• कूर्चम्: a kūrca-bundle
• कूर्चम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात (or)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-निपात (also)

• निवेश्य: having placed
• निवेश्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विश् (धातु) णिच्; उपसर्गः नि; (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्-रूप (gerund) ‘having placed/installed’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• मृदा: with clay/earth
• मृदा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अम्भसा: with water
• अम्भसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्भस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पञ्चगव्यैः: with the five cow-products
• पञ्चगव्यैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + गव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्विगु (‘पञ्च गव्यानि’ = five cow-products)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण

• शुद्धजलेन: with pure water
• शुद्धजलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (‘शुद्धं जलम्’)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Ritual purification (śodhana) with pañcagavya and water symbolizes loosening pāśa (impurity/bondage) so the worshipper may approach the liṅga with adhikāra; the ‘golden bull’ evokes dharma and Śiva’s vṛṣa-dhvaja identity.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches śuddhi (purification) as a support for Shaiva worship: by cleansing the ritual base with earth, water, and pañcagavya, the devotee cultivates outer purity that mirrors inner purification, making the mind fit to approach Pati (Shiva) beyond pāśa (bondage).

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

The verse describes preparatory rites—installing an auspicious emblem (golden bull/Nandi-symbol or a kūrca substitute) and purifying it—before approaching Saguna Shiva in formal worship; such ordered preparation expresses reverence and steadies devotion prior to Linga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is ritual śuddhi: prepare the worship spot, place the prescribed emblem, cleanse with earth and water, apply pañcagavya purification, and conclude with śुद्ध-jala; inwardly, accompany the acts with Shiva-smaraṇa and japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to align mind and rite.