Shloka 16

पार्थिवार्चाविधिः | Pārthivārcā-vidhi

Procedure for the Earthen Liṅga Worship

Devanagari script

मानो महन्तमिति च मंत्रेणावाहनं चरेत् । याते रुद्रे ण मंत्रेण संचरेदुपवेशनम्

Transliteration

māno mahantamiti ca maṃtreṇāvāhanaṃ caret | yāte rudre ṇa maṃtreṇa saṃcaredupaveśanam

Translation

以“māno mahantam…”开头之真言，应行请降（āvāhana），迎请伟大的主宰。继而以“yāte rudreṇa…”开头之真言，应行安座（upaveśana），奉献座位，使湿婆慈悲而显现的临在安立于礼拜之中。

Word by Word

• मानो: “māno” (mantra word)
• मानो: Upapada (उपपद/मन्त्र-उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मानो (अव्यय; मन्त्रपाठ-शब्द)
• Form: मन्त्रपाठे प्रयुक्त अव्यय/पद (quoted mantra-word)

• महन्तम्: the great one
• महन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महन्त् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Upapada (उपपद/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उद्धरण-समाप्तिसूचक (quotative)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• आवाहनम्: invocation
• आवाहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• चरेत्: should perform
• चरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘he should perform’

• याते: “yāte” (mantra word)
• याते: Upapada (उपपद/मन्त्र-उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: याते (अव्यय; मन्त्रपाठ-शब्द)
• Form: मन्त्रपाठे प्रयुक्त अव्यय/पद (quoted mantra-word)

• रुद्रेण: by/with Rudra
• रुद्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• मन्त्रेण: with the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• संचरेत्: should perform / should proceed
• संचरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-चर् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘he should proceed/perform’

• उपवेशनम्: seating / sitting down
• उपवेशनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-worship procedure to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Āvāhana and upaveśana articulate the core devotional move: inviting the transcendent Pati to become graciously present (sannidhāna) for the paśu; this is a ritual enactment of anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: mā no mahāntam … ; yā te rudreṇa …

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship begins by consciously inviting Śiva’s grace into the rite (āvāhana) and then stabilizing that presence by offering a seat (upaveśana). In Shaiva understanding, this trains the devotee to approach the Pati (Lord) with reverence and inner steadiness so that devotion becomes a living encounter, not a mere formality.

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

The verse supports Saguna-upāsanā: Śiva is adored in a worshipable, accessible form (such as the Liṅga) through prescribed mantras and upacāras. Avāhana and upaveśana ritually affirm that the Liṅga is the locus where the devotee meets the compassionate, manifest Lord while recognizing His transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform āvāhana with the “māno mahantam…” mantra and then upaveśana with the “yāte rudreṇa…” mantra. Meditatively, it implies inviting Śiva into the heart (inner āvāhana) and establishing Him firmly in awareness (inner upaveśana) before continuing the remaining upacāras.