Shloka 55

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ — Installation Standards and Auspicious Parameters for Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

लिंगाद्धस्तशतं पुण्यं क्षेत्रे मानुषके विदुः । सहस्रारत्निमात्रं तु पुण्यक्षेत्रे तथार्षके

Transliteration

liṃgāddhastaśataṃ puṇyaṃ kṣetre mānuṣake viduḥ | sahasrāratnimātraṃ tu puṇyakṣetre tathārṣake

Translation

智者宣说：在人所建立的圣域中，从湿婆林伽（Śiva-liṅga）起，功德有效之地延伸一百肘（hasta）。而在真正的福地、由圣仙（ṛṣi）所加持的圣域中，其范围则广至一千道光芒（如日之千辉）。

Word by Word

• liṅgāt: from (a) liṅga
• liṅgāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• hasta-śatam: a hundred cubits
• hasta-śatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hasta (प्रातिपदिक) + śata (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: Dvigu compound (numerical); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); measure = ‘a hundred cubits’

• puṇyam: merit
• puṇyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṣetre: in a field/place
• kṣetre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mānuṣake: human (ordinary)
• mānuṣake: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānuṣaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying kṣetre

• viduḥ: they know/declare
• viduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sahasra-rātni-mātram: a measure of a thousand spans
• sahasra-rātni-mātram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + rātni (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (measure-expression); Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); ‘measure of a thousand spans’

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (विरोध/अवधारण-अव्यय) = ‘but/indeed’

• puṇya-kṣetre: in a holy field/place
• puṇya-kṣetre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय) = ‘thus/so/likewise’

• ārṣake: ṛṣi-related/sacred (ārṣa)
• ārṣake: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ārṣaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying (kṣetre) understood

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse distinguishes degrees of kṣetra-potency by origin: a mānuṣa (human-established) precinct has limited radius of sanctity around the liṅga, while an ārṣa (ṛṣi-sanctified) kṣetra has vastly expanded efficacy—implying accumulated tapas and consecratory lineage.

Significance: Teaches pilgrims and ritualists that sanctity is not merely architectural but depends on consecration-source and spiritual lineage; proximity (parisara) matters for merit and liberation-oriented practice.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacredness is not only architectural but arises from Śiva’s presence and the sanctifying power of an established kṣetra; a seer-sanctified holy field carries a far wider spiritual influence than an ordinary, man-made precinct.

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

The Liṅga is treated as Saguna Śiva’s accessible form; the verse quantifies the ‘field of grace’ around it, implying that worship, japa, and reverence performed within that sphere become especially fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Undertake darśana and pradakṣiṇā (circumambulation) of the Liṅga within the sacred boundary, and perform mantra-japa (especially Śiva’s names/Pañcākṣarī) while staying close to the Liṅga in a recognized puṇya-kṣetra.