The Glory of Parthiva Worship and the Kinds of Bhasma

Verse 1 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सूत चिरञ्जीव धन्यस्त्वं शिवभक्तिमान् । सम्यगुक्तस्त्वया लिङ्गमहिमा सत्फलप्रदः ॥ 19.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sūta cirañjīva dhanyastvaṁ śivabhaktimān samyaguktastvayā liṅgamahimā satphalapradaḥ

The sages said: O Suta, Suta, long may you live! Blessed are you, filled with devotion to Shiva. You have well told the greatness of the Linga, which bestows true fruit.

Verse 2 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.2)

यत्र पार्थिवमाहेशलिङ्गस्य महिमाधुना । सर्वोत्कृष्टश्च कथितो व्यासतो ब्रूहि तं पुनः ॥ 19.2 ॥

yatra pārthivamāheśaliṅgasya mahimādhunā sarvotkṛṣṭaśca kathito vyāsato brūhi taṁ punaḥ

Now please tell us again that greatness of the Parthiva Maheshvara Linga, which Vyasa declared to be supreme above all.

Verse 3 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.3)

सूत उवाच । शृणुध्वमृषयः सर्वे सद्भक्त्यादरतोऽखिलाः । शिवपार्थिवलिङ्गस्य महिमा प्रोच्यते मया ॥ 19.3 ॥

sūta uvāca śaṛṇudhvamṛṣayaḥ sarve sadbhaktyādarato’khilāḥ śivapārthivaliṅgasya mahimā procyate mayā

Suta said: Listen, all you sages, with true devotion and reverence — I shall speak of the greatness of Shiva's Parthiva Linga.

Verse 4 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.4)

उक्तेष्वेतेषु लिङ्गेषु पार्थिवं लिङ्गमुत्तमम् । तस्य पूजनतो विप्रा बहवः सिद्धिमागताः ॥ 19.4 ॥

ukteṣveteṣu liṅgeṣu pārthivaṁ liṅgamuttamam tasya pūjanato viprā bahavaḥ siddhimāgatāḥ

Among the Lingas already spoken of, the Parthiva Linga is the most excellent; O brahmins, by its worship many have attained accomplishment.

Verse 5 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.5)

हरिर्ब्रह्मा च ऋषयः सप्रजापतयस्तथा । सम्पूज्य पार्थिवं लिङ्गं प्रापुः सर्वेप्सितं द्विजाः ॥ 19.5 ॥

harirbrahmā ca ṛṣayaḥ saprajāpatayastathā sampūjya pārthivaṁ liṅgaṁ prāpuḥ sarvepsitaṁ dvijāḥ

Hari, Brahma, and the sages together with the Prajapatis, having well worshipped the Parthiva Linga, obtained all that they desired, O brahmins.

Verse 6 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.6)

देवासुरमनुष्याश्च गन्धर्वोरगराक्षसाः । अन्येऽपि बहवः सिद्धिं तं सम्पूज्य गताः पराम् ॥ 19.6 ॥

devāsuramanuṣyāśca gandharvoragarākṣasāḥ anye’pi bahavaḥ siddhiṁ taṁ sampūjya gatāḥ parām

Gods, demons, humans, gandharvas, serpent-beings, and rakshasas, and many others too, having worshipped it, attained the highest accomplishment.

Verse 7 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.7)

कृते रत्नमयं लिङ्गं त्रेतायां हेमसम्भवम् । द्वापरे पारदं श्रेष्ठं पार्थिवं तु कलौ युगे ॥ 19.7 ॥

kṛte ratnamayaṁ liṅgaṁ tretāyāṁ hemasambhavam dvāpare pāradaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ pārthivaṁ tu kalau yuge

In the Krita age the gem-made Linga is best, in Treta the gold-made, in Dvapara the excellent mercury Linga, and in the Kali age the Parthiva (clay) Linga is best.

Verse 8 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.8)

अष्टमूर्तिषु सर्वासु मूर्तिर्वै पार्थिवी वरा । अनन्यपूजिता विप्रास्तपस्तस्मान्महत्फलम् ॥ 19.8 ॥

aṣṭamūrtiṣu sarvāsu mūrtirvai pārthivī varā ananyapūjitā viprāstapastasmānmahatphalam

Among all of Shiva's eight cosmic forms, the earthen form is the most excellent; O brahmins, unmatched in worship, austerity directed toward it bears the greatest fruit.

Verse 9 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.9)

यथा सर्वेषु देवेषु ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठः महेश्वरः । एवं सर्वेषु लिङ्गेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते ॥ 19.9 ॥

yathā sarveṣu deveṣu jyeṣṭhaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ maheśvaraḥ evaṁ sarveṣu liṅgeṣu pārthivaṁ śreṣṭhamucyate

Just as among all the gods, Maheshvara is the eldest and the greatest, so among all Lingas the Parthiva is declared to be the best.

Verse 10 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.10)

यथा नदीषु सर्वासु ज्येष्ठा श्रेष्ठा सुरापगा । तथा सर्वेषु लिङ्गेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते ॥ 19.10 ॥

yathā nadīṣu sarvāsu jyeṣṭhā śreṣṭhā surāpagā tathā sarveṣu liṅgeṣu pārthivaṁ śreṣṭhamucyate

Just as among all rivers the celestial Ganga is the eldest and greatest, so among all Lingas the Parthiva is declared to be the best.

Verse 11 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.11)

यथा सर्वेषु मन्त्रेषु प्रणवो हि महान्स्मृतः । तथेदं पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमाराध्यं पूज्यमेव हि ॥ 19.11 ॥

yathā sarveṣu mantreṣu praṇavo hi mahānsmṛtaḥ tathedaṁ pārthivaṁ śreṣṭhamārādhyaṁ pūjyameva hi

Just as among all mantras the Pranava is held to be the greatest, so this Parthiva Linga is the best — truly worthy of adoration and worship.

Verse 12 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.12)

यथा सर्वेषु वर्णेषु ब्राह्मणः श्रेष्ठ उच्यते । तथा सर्वेषु लिङ्गेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते ॥ 19.12 ॥

yathā sarveṣu varṇeṣu brāhmaṇaḥ śreṣṭha ucyate tathā sarveṣu liṅgeṣu pārthivaṁ śreṣṭhamucyate

Just as among all classes the brahmin is called the best, so among all Lingas the Parthiva is declared to be the best.

Verse 13 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.13)

यथा पुरीषु सर्वासु काशी श्रेष्ठतमा स्मृता । तथा सर्वेषु लिङ्गेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते ॥ 19.13 ॥

yathā purīṣu sarvāsu kāśī śreṣṭhatamā smṛtā tathā sarveṣu liṅgeṣu pārthivaṁ śreṣṭhamucyate

Just as among all cities Kashi is held to be the very best, so among all Lingas the Parthiva is declared to be the best.

Verse 14 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.14)

यथा व्रतेषु सर्वेषु शिवरात्रिव्रतं परम् । तथा सर्वेषु लिङ्गेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते ॥ 19.14 ॥

yathā vrateṣu sarveṣu śivarātrivrataṁ param tathā sarveṣu liṅgeṣu pārthivaṁ śreṣṭhamucyate

Just as among all vows the Shivaratri vow is supreme, so among all Lingas the Parthiva is declared to be the best.

Verse 15 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.15)

यथा देवीषु सर्वासु शैवी शक्तिः परा स्मृता । तथा सर्वेषु लिङ्गेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते ॥ 19.15 ॥

yathā devīṣu sarvāsu śaivī śaktiḥ parā smṛtā tathā sarveṣu liṅgeṣu pārthivaṁ śreṣṭhamucyate

Just as among all goddesses the Shaiva Shakti (Parvati) is held to be supreme, so among all Lingas the Parthiva is declared to be the best.

Verse 16 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.16)

प्रकृत्य पार्थिवं लिङ्गं योऽन्यदेवं प्रपूजयेत् । वृथा भवति सा पूजा स्नानदानादिकं वृथा ॥ 19.16 ॥

prakṛtya pārthivaṁ liṅgaṁ yo’nyadevaṁ prapūjayet vṛthā bhavati sā pūjā snānadānādikaṁ vṛthā

One who, having made the Parthiva Linga according to rule, then worships some other deity instead — his worship becomes fruitless, and his bathing, charity and the rest become fruitless too.

Verse 17 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.17)

पार्थिवाराधनं पुण्यं धन्यमायुर्विवर्धनम् । तुष्टिदं पुष्टिदं श्रीदं कार्यं साधकसत्तमैः ॥ 19.17 ॥

pārthivārādhanaṁ puṇyaṁ dhanyamāyurvivardhanam tuṣṭidaṁ puṣṭidaṁ śrīdaṁ kāryaṁ sādhakasattamaiḥ

Worship of the Parthiva Linga is meritorious, auspicious, increases longevity, and grants contentment, nourishment, and prosperity — the best of practitioners should certainly undertake it.

Verse 18 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.18)

यथालब्धोपचारैश्च भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितः । पूजयेत्पार्थिवं लिङ्गं सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिदम् ॥ 19.18 ॥

yathālabdhopacāraiśca bhaktiśraddhāsamanvitaḥ pūjayetpārthivaṁ liṅgaṁ sarvakāmārthasiddhidam

With whatever offerings are available, filled with devotion and faith, one should worship the Parthiva Linga, which fulfils every desire and purpose.

Verse 19 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.19)

यः कृत्वा पार्थिवं लिङ्गं पूजयेच्छुभवेदिकम् । इहैव धनवाञ्छ्रीमानन्ते रुद्रोऽभिजायते ॥ 19.19 ॥

yaḥ kṛtvā pārthivaṁ liṅgaṁ pūjayecchubhavedikam ihaiva dhanavāñchrīmānante rudro’bhijāyate

Whoever, having made the Parthiva Linga, worships it upon an auspicious platform, becomes wealthy and prosperous in this very life, and at the end is born into Rudra's own state.

Verse 20 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.20)

त्रिसन्ध्यं योऽर्चयंल्लिङ्गं कृत्वा बिल्वेन पार्थिवम् । दशैकादशकं यावत्तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु ॥ 19.20 ॥

trisandhyaṁ yo’rcayaṁlliṅgaṁ kṛtvā bilvena pārthivam daśaikādaśakaṁ yāvattasya puṇyaphalaṁ śaṛṇu

One who worships at the three daily junctures, having made the Parthiva Linga together with bilva, for ten or eleven days — hear the merit of that fruit.

Verse 21 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.21)

अनेनैव स्वदेहेन रुद्रलोके महीयते । पापहं सर्वमर्त्यानां दर्शनात्स्पर्शनादपि ॥ 19.21 ॥

anenaiva svadehena rudraloke mahīyate pāpahaṁ sarvamartyānāṁ darśanātsparśanādapi

With this very body he becomes glorified in Rudraloka; merely by the sight or the touch of him, the sin of all mortals is removed.

Verse 22 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.22)

जीवन्मुक्तः स वै ज्ञानी शिव एव न संशयः । तस्य दर्शनमात्रेण भुक्तिर्मुक्तिश्च जायते ॥ 19.22 ॥

jīvanmuktaḥ sa vai jñānī śiva eva na saṁśayaḥ tasya darśanamātreṇa bhuktirmuktiśca jāyate

He is, without doubt, a jivanmukta, a man of true knowledge, Shiva himself; merely by his sight, both worldly enjoyment and liberation come about.

Verse 23 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.23)

शिवं यः पूजयेन्नित्यं कृत्वा लिङ्गं तु पार्थिवम् । यावज्जीवनपर्यन्तं स याति शिवमन्दिरम् ॥ 19.23 ॥

śivaṁ yaḥ pūjayennityaṁ kṛtvā liṅgaṁ tu pārthivam yāvajjīvanaparyantaṁ sa yāti śivamandiram

Whoever, having made the Parthiva Linga, worships Shiva daily throughout his whole life, attains Shiva's own abode.

Verse 24 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.24)

मृडेनाप्रमितान्वर्षाञ्छिवलोके हि तिष्ठति । सकामः पुनरागत्य राजेन्द्रो भारते भवेत् ॥ 19.24 ॥

mṛḍenāpramitānvarṣāñchivaloke hi tiṣṭhati sakāmaḥ punarāgatya rājendro bhārate bhavet

By Mrida's grace he dwells in Shivaloka for countless years; if desire still remains in him, upon returning he becomes a great king in Bharata.

Verse 25 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.25)

निष्कामः पूजयेन्नित्यं पार्थिवं लिङ्गमुत्तमम् । शिवलोके सदा तिष्ठेत्तस्य सायुज्यमाप्नुयात् ॥ 19.25 ॥

niṣkāmaḥ pūjayennityaṁ pārthivaṁ liṅgamuttamam śivaloke sadā tiṣṭhettasya sāyujyamāpnuyāt

One free from desire, who worships the excellent Parthiva Linga daily, dwells forever in Shivaloka, and attains union with Him.

Verse 26 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.26)

पार्थिवं शिवलिङ्गं च विप्रो यदि न पूजयेत् । स याति नरकं घोरं शूलप्रोतं सुदारुणम् ॥ 19.26 ॥

pārthivaṁ śivaliṅgaṁ ca vipro yadi na pūjayet sa yāti narakaṁ ghoraṁ śūlaprotaṁ sudāruṇam

If a brahmin does not worship the Parthiva Shiva-linga, he goes to a terrible, dreadful hell, there to be impaled upon a spike.

Verse 27 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.27)

यथाकथञ्चिद्विधिना रम्यं लिङ्गं प्रकारयेत् । पञ्चसूत्रविधानं च पार्थिवे न विचारयेत् ॥ 19.27 ॥

yathākathañcidvidhinā ramyaṁ liṅgaṁ prakārayet pañcasūtravidhānaṁ ca pārthive na vicārayet

However it may be possible, one should have a beautiful Linga made according to rule; for the Parthiva Linga, one need not trouble over the five-cord measuring rule.

Verse 28 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.28)

अखण्डं तद्धि कर्तव्यं न विखण्डं प्रकारयेत् । विखण्डं तु प्रकुर्वाणो नैव पूजाफलं लभेत् ॥ 19.28 ॥

akhaṇḍaṁ taddhi kartavyaṁ na vikhaṇḍaṁ prakārayet vikhaṇḍaṁ tu prakurvāṇo naiva pūjāphalaṁ labhet

It should indeed be made undivided; one should not make it divided; whoever makes it divided does not obtain the fruit of worship at all.

Verse 29 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.29)

रत्नजं हेमजं लिङ्गं पारदं स्फाटिकं तथा । पार्थिवं पुष्परागोत्थमखण्डं तु प्रकारयेत् ॥ 19.29 ॥

ratnajaṁ hemajaṁ liṅgaṁ pāradaṁ sphāṭikaṁ tathā pārthivaṁ puṣparāgotthamakhaṇḍaṁ tu prakārayet

A Linga made of gem, of gold, of mercury, of crystal, of topaz, and likewise the Parthiva Linga — all these should be made undivided.

Verse 30 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.30)

अखण्डं तु चरं लिङ्गं द्विखण्डमचरं स्मृतम् । खण्डाखण्डविचारोऽयं सचराचरयोः स्मृतः ॥ 19.30 ॥

akhaṇḍaṁ tu caraṁ liṅgaṁ dvikhaṇḍamacaraṁ smṛtam khaṇḍākhaṇḍavicāro’yaṁ sacarācarayoḥ smṛtaḥ

The movable Linga is declared to be undivided, the immovable Linga is held to be two-part; this consideration of divided and undivided applies to both the movable and the immovable.

Verse 31 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.31)

वेदिका तु महाविद्या लिङ्गं देवो महेश्वरः । अतो हि स्थावरे लिङ्गे स्मृता श्रेष्ठा द्विखण्डता ॥ 19.31 ॥

vedikā tu mahāvidyā liṅgaṁ devo maheśvaraḥ ato hi sthāvare liṅge smṛtā śreṣṭhā dvikhaṇḍatā

The pedestal is the Great Wisdom, Shakti herself, and the Linga is the God Maheshvara; therefore, for the immovable Linga, the two-part form is held to be the best.

Verse 32 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.32)

द्विखण्डं स्थावरं लिङ्गं कर्तव्यं हि विधानतः । अखण्डं जङ्गमं प्रोक्तं शैवसिद्धान्तवेदिभिः ॥ 19.32 ॥

dvikhaṇḍaṁ sthāvaraṁ liṅgaṁ kartavyaṁ hi vidhānataḥ akhaṇḍaṁ jaṅgamaṁ proktaṁ śaivasiddhāntavedibhiḥ

The immovable Linga should indeed be made two-part, according to rule; the movable Linga is declared undivided by those versed in Shaiva Siddhanta.

Verse 33 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.33)

द्विखण्डं तु चरं लिङ्गं कुर्वन्त्यज्ञानमोहिताः । नैव सिद्धान्तवेत्तारो मुनयः शास्त्रकोविदाः ॥ 19.33 ॥

dvikhaṇḍaṁ tu caraṁ liṅgaṁ kurvantyajñānamohitāḥ naiva siddhāntavettāro munayaḥ śāstrakovidāḥ

Those deluded by ignorance who make the movable Linga two-part are never true knowers of the Siddhanta, nor sages skilled in scripture.

Verse 34 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.34)

अखण्डं स्थावरं लिङ्गं द्विखण्डं चरमेव च । ये कुर्वन्ति नरा मूढा न पूजाफलभागिनः ॥ 19.34 ॥

akhaṇḍaṁ sthāvaraṁ liṅgaṁ dvikhaṇḍaṁ carameva ca ye kurvanti narā mūḍhā na pūjāphalabhāginaḥ

Foolish men who make the immovable Linga undivided, and the movable Linga two-part, never share in the fruit of worship.

Verse 35 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.35)

तस्माच्छास्त्रोक्तविधिना अखण्डं चरसंज्ञकम् । द्विखण्डं स्थावरं लिङ्गं कर्तव्यं परया मुदा ॥ 19.35 ॥

tasmācchāstroktavidhinā akhaṇḍaṁ carasaṁjñakam dvikhaṇḍaṁ sthāvaraṁ liṅgaṁ kartavyaṁ parayā mudā

Therefore, according to the rule declared in scripture, one should make the movable Linga undivided and the immovable Linga two-part, with the greatest joy.

Verse 36 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.36)

अखण्डे तु चरे पूजा सम्पूर्णफलदायिनी । द्विखण्डे तु चरे पूजा महाहानिप्रदा स्मृता ॥ 19.36 ॥

akhaṇḍe tu care pūjā sampūrṇaphaladāyinī dvikhaṇḍe tu care pūjā mahāhānipradā smṛtā

Worship of the undivided movable Linga bestows complete fruit; worship of the two-part movable Linga is held to bring about great loss.

Verse 37 (shiva.vidyeshvara.19.37)

अखण्डे स्थावरे पूजा न कामफलदायिनी । प्रत्यवायकरी नित्यमित्युक्तं शास्त्रवेदिभिः ॥ 19.37 ॥

akhaṇḍe sthāvare pūjā na kāmaphaladāyinī pratyavāyakarī nityamityuktaṁ śāstravedibhiḥ

Worship of the undivided immovable Linga does not bestow the fruit of one's desire; the knowers of scripture have said that it constantly brings about the opposite instead.