Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 54

पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्

Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon

Devanagari script

कृत्तिकासौम्यवारेषु विष्णोर्वै यजनं नृणाम् । दध्योदनस्य दानं च सत्संतानकरं भवेत्

Transliteration

kṛttikāsaumyavāreṣu viṣṇorvai yajanaṃ nṛṇām | dadhyodanasya dānaṃ ca satsaṃtānakaraṃ bhavet

Translation

当昴宿（Kṛttikā）与星期三（Saumya-vāra）相合之时，据说人们礼拜供奉毗湿奴尊神最为有益；并且布施“酸乳饭”（dadhy-odana，即以酸奶煮拌之米饭），能成为获得贤善子嗣的因缘。

Word by Word

• कृत्तिकासौम्यवारेषु: on Kṛttikā (nakṣatra) Mondays
• कृत्तिकासौम्यवारेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्तिका-सौम्य-वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), बहुवचन; समाहार/निर्देशार्थ बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (कृत्तिकायां/कृत्तिका-नक्षत्रे, सौम्यवारे=सोमवारे)

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/assurance particle)

• यजनम्: worship/sacrifice
• यजनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• नृणाम्: of men/people
• नृणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• दध्योदनस्य: of curd and rice (curd-rice)
• दध्योदनस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधि-ओदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (दधि च ओदनः च)

• दानम्: giving/donation
• दानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-निपात

• सत्संतानकरम्: producing good progeny
• सत्संतानकरम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्-संतान-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सत्=शुभः, संतान=सन्तति, कर=करक)

• भवेत्: may become/is conducive
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; this verse gives a calendrical (nakṣatra–vāra) prescription for worship and dāna aimed at progeny.

Significance: Merit (puṇya) through timely worship and charity; framed as a means to obtain sat-santāna (virtuous progeny).

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that dharma is strengthened by aligning devotion and charity with auspicious time (nakṣatra and weekday). Such disciplined worship and dāna purify karma and are said to support the blessing of noble progeny (sat-santāna).

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

Though it recommends Viṣṇu-worship for a specific timing, in the Shiva Purana this functions within a broader theistic harmony where saguna devotions and charitable acts are valid supports for purity and household well-being—preparing the devotee for deeper Shaiva practice centered on Śiva and the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform worship (yajana) on Kṛttikā falling on Wednesday, and offer dadhy-odana in charity. As a Shaiva takeaway, one may accompany the act with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and maintain purity and restraint while giving.