Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 13

Śiva-Naivedya-Grāhyatā-Nirṇayaḥ

On the Proper Acceptance and Merit of Śiva’s Consecrated Food-Offering

Devanagari script

शालग्रामोद्भवे लिंगे रसलिंगे तथा द्विजाः । पाषाणे राजते स्वर्णे सुरसिद्धप्रतिष्ठिते

Transliteration

śālagrāmodbhave liṃge rasaliṃge tathā dvijāḥ | pāṣāṇe rājate svarṇe surasiddhapratiṣṭhite

Translation

噢，二次生者们：无论林伽出自娑罗伽罗摩石，或为“罗娑林伽”（以神圣水银精华所成之林伽），或由石、银、金所制——尤其当其由诸天或圆满成就的悉地者如法安立时——皆应作为湿婆显现之相而受礼拜。

Word by Word

• शालग्राम-उद्भवे: in the Śālagrāma-origin (liṅga)
• शालग्राम-उद्भवे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शालग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पञ्चमी/षष्ठी-भाव): शालग्रामात् उद्भवः / शालग्रामस्य उद्भवः; 'in (a liṅga) arisen from Śālagrāma'

• लिङ्गे: in the liṅga
• लिङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• रस-लिङ्गे: in the rasa-liṅga
• रस-लिङ्गे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस (प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी): रसस्य लिङ्गम्

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यत्व-बोधक (adverb/conjunction: 'also/likewise')

• द्विजाः: O twice-born (brāhmaṇas)
• द्विजाः: Sambodhana/Addressed (सम्बोधनार्थ/प्रेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पाषाणे: in stone
• पाषाणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाषाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• राजते: shines/is splendid
• राजते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: राज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• स्वर्णे: in gold
• स्वर्णे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• सुर-सिद्ध-प्रतिष्ठिते: in (that which is) installed by gods and siddhas
• सुर-सिद्ध-प्रतिष्ठिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रतिष्ठित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √स्था with प्रति)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: सुरैः सिद्धैः प्रतिष्ठिते (installed by gods and siddhas)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse generalizes liṅga-worship across materials, emphasizing that consecration (pratiṣṭhā) by devas/siddhas renders the liṅga fully fit as Śiva’s manifest presence; it functions as a portable/temple analogue to svayaṃbhū and jyotirliṅga sanctity.

Significance: Affirms that Śiva’s grace (anugraha) is accessible through properly established liṅgas regardless of substance; supports household and temple worship legitimacy.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms that Śiva’s grace becomes accessible through the Saguna form of the Liṅga, regardless of material—stone, silver, gold, Śālagrāma, or Rasaliṅga—especially when properly consecrated, emphasizing devotion and sanctified installation over mere substance.

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

The verse lists acceptable forms of the Liṅga for worship, teaching that the Liṅga is a valid manifest support (ālambana) for devotion to Śiva, whose transcendent Nirguṇa reality is approached through a consecrated Saguna presence in ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to proper pratiṣṭhā (consecration/installation) and regular Liṅga-pūjā; a practical takeaway is daily worship with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offered to a duly installed Liṅga.