The Number of Shivalingas for Worship According to One's Desire

Verse 1 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.1)

ऋषय ऊचुः । सूत सूत महाभाग व्यासशिष्य नमोऽस्तु ते । सम्यगुक्तं त्वया तात पार्थिवार्चाविधानकम् ॥ 21.1 ॥

ṛṣaya ūcuḥ sūta sūta mahābhāga vyāsaśiṣya namo’stu te samyaguktaṁ tvayā tāta pārthivārcāvidhānakam

The sages said: O Suta, Suta, most fortunate disciple of Vyasa, salutation to you! Dear one, you have well told the procedure of Parthiva worship.

Verse 2 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.2)

कामनाभेदमाश्रित्य सङ्ख्यां ब्रूहि विधानतः । शिवपार्थिवलिङ्गानां कृपया दीनवत्सल ॥ 21.2 ॥

kāmanābhedamāśritya saṅkhyāṁ brūhi vidhānataḥ śivapārthivaliṅgānāṁ kṛpayā dīnavatsala

Now, based on the various kinds of desire, please tell us, by your kindness, O compassionate one to the humble, the prescribed number of Shiva-Parthiva lingas [to be made for each].

Verse 3 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.3)

सूत उवाच । शृणुध्वमृषयः सर्वे पार्थिवार्चाविधानकम् । यस्यानुष्ठानमात्रेण कृतकृत्यो भवेन्नरः ॥ 21.3 ॥

sūta uvāca śaṛṇudhvamṛṣayaḥ sarve pārthivārcāvidhānakam yasyānuṣṭhānamātreṇa kṛtakṛtyo bhavennaraḥ

Suta said: Listen, all you sages, to that procedure of Parthiva worship, by the mere performance of which a man becomes one whose purpose is fulfilled.

Verse 4 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.4)

अकृत्वा पार्थिवं लिङ्गं योऽन्यदेवं प्रपूजयेत् । वृथा भवति सा पूजा दमदानादिकं वृथा ॥ 21.4 ॥

akṛtvā pārthivaṁ liṅgaṁ yo’nyadevaṁ prapūjayet vṛthā bhavati sā pūjā damadānādikaṁ vṛthā

Whoever, without making the Parthiva linga, worships some other deity, his worship becomes fruitless; his self-restraint, charity, and the rest likewise become fruitless.

Verse 5 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.5)

सङ्ख्या पार्थिवलिङ्गानां यथाकामं निगद्यते । सङ्ख्या सद्यो मुनिश्रेष्ठ निश्चयेन फलप्रदा ॥ 21.5 ॥

saṅkhyā pārthivaliṅgānāṁ yathākāmaṁ nigadyate saṅkhyā sadyo muniśreṣṭha niścayena phalapradā

The number of Parthiva lingas is told according to one's desire; O best of sages, that number, without fail, certainly bestows its fruit at once.

Verse 6 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.6)

प्रथमावाहनं तत्र प्रतिष्ठा पूजनं पृथक् । लिङ्गाकारं समं तत्र सर्वं ज्ञेयं पृथक्पृथक् ॥ 21.6 ॥

prathamāvāhanaṁ tatra pratiṣṭhā pūjanaṁ pṛthak liṅgākāraṁ samaṁ tatra sarvaṁ jñeyaṁ pṛthakpṛthak

There, the initial invocation, the installation, and the worship are each distinct steps; the form of the linga at each stage should likewise be understood separately for each.

Verse 7 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.7)

विद्यार्थी पुरुषः प्रीत्या सहस्रमितपार्थिवम् । पूजयेच्छिवलिङ्गं हि निश्चयात्तत्फलप्रदम् ॥ 21.7 ॥

vidyārthī puruṣaḥ prītyā sahasramitapārthivam pūjayecchivaliṅgaṁ hi niścayāttatphalapradam

One who desires knowledge should lovingly worship a thousand Parthiva Shiva-lingas — this, without fail, bestows precisely that fruit.

Verse 8 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.8)

नरः पार्थिवलिङ्गानां धनार्थी च तदर्धकम् । पुत्रार्थी सार्धसाहस्रं वस्त्रार्थी शतपञ्चकम् ॥ 21.8 ॥

naraḥ pārthivaliṅgānāṁ dhanārthī ca tadardhakam putrārthī sārdhasāhasraṁ vastrārthī śatapañcakam

A man desiring wealth should make half that number of Parthiva lingas; one desiring a son, fifteen hundred; one desiring clothing, five hundred.

Verse 9 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.9)

मोक्षार्थी कोटिगुणितं भूकामश्च सहस्रकम् । दयार्थी च त्रिसाहस्रं तीर्थार्थी द्विसहस्रकम् ॥ 21.9 ॥

mokṣārthī koṭiguṇitaṁ bhūkāmaśca sahasrakam dayārthī ca trisāhasraṁ tīrthārthī dvisahasrakam

One desiring liberation should make a crore times as many; one desiring land, a thousand; one desiring compassion, three thousand; one desiring the merit of pilgrimage, two thousand.

Verse 10 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.10)

सुहृत्कामी त्रिसाहस्रं वश्यार्थी शतमष्टकम् । मारणार्थी सप्तशतं मोहनार्थी शताष्टकम् ॥ 21.10 ॥

suhṛtkāmī trisāhasraṁ vaśyārthī śatamaṣṭakam māraṇārthī saptaśataṁ mohanārthī śatāṣṭakam

One desiring good friends, three thousand; one desiring to subjugate another, one hundred and eight; one desiring to slay a foe, seven hundred; one desiring to delude, one hundred and eight.

Verse 11 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.11)

उच्चाटनपरश्चैव सहस्रं च यथोक्ततः । स्तम्भनार्थी सहस्रं तु द्वेषणार्थी तदर्धकम् ॥ 21.11 ॥

uccāṭanaparaścaiva sahasraṁ ca yathoktataḥ stambhanārthī sahasraṁ tu dveṣaṇārthī tadardhakam

One intent on driving away a foe (uchchatana) should likewise make a thousand, as declared; one desiring paralysis (stambhana), a thousand; one desiring to cause enmity, half that.

Verse 12 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.12)

निगडान्मुक्तिकामस्तु सहस्रं सार्धमुत्तमम् । महाराजभये पञ्चशतं ज्ञेयं विचक्षणैः ॥ 21.12 ॥

nigaḍānmuktikāmastu sahasraṁ sārdhamuttamam mahārājabhaye pañcaśataṁ jñeyaṁ vicakṣaṇaiḥ

One desiring release from bondage should make fifteen hundred, which is best; in fear of a powerful king, five hundred should be known by the discerning.

Verse 13 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.13)

चौरादिसङ्कटे ज्ञेयं पार्थिवानां शतद्वयम् । डाकिन्यादिभये पञ्चशतमुक्तं च पार्थिवम् ॥ 21.13 ॥

caurādisaṅkaṭe jñeyaṁ pārthivānāṁ śatadvayam ḍākinyādibhaye pañcaśatamuktaṁ ca pārthivam

In distress from thieves and the like, two hundred Parthiva lingas should be known; in fear of dakinis and the like, five hundred Parthiva lingas are declared.

Verse 14 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.14)

दारिद्र्ये पञ्चसाहस्रमयुतं सर्वकामदम् । अथ नित्यविधिं वक्ष्ये शृणुध्वं मुनिसत्तमाः ॥ 21.14 ॥

dāridrye pañcasāhasramayutaṁ sarvakāmadam atha nityavidhiṁ vakṣye śaṛṇudhvaṁ munisattamāḥ

In poverty, five thousand and ten thousand together fulfil every desire. Now I shall tell the daily procedure — listen, O best of sages.

Verse 15 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.15)

एकं पापहरं प्रोक्तं द्विलिङ्गं चार्थसिद्धिदम् । त्रिलिङ्गं सर्वकामानां कारणं परमीरितम् ॥ 21.15 ॥

ekaṁ pāpaharaṁ proktaṁ dviliṅgaṁ cārthasiddhidam triliṅgaṁ sarvakāmānāṁ kāraṇaṁ paramīritam

One linga is declared to remove sin; two lingas bestow the accomplishment of one's aims; three lingas are declared the supreme cause of all desires.

Verse 16 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.16)

उत्तरोत्तरमेवं स्यात्पूर्वोक्तगणनावधि । मतान्तरमथो वक्ष्ये सङ्ख्यायां मुनिभेदतः ॥ 21.16 ॥

uttarottaramevaṁ syātpūrvoktagaṇanāvadhi matāntaramatho vakṣye saṅkhyāyāṁ munibhedataḥ

Thus it increases progressively, up to the count already stated; now I shall also tell a differing view on this number, arising from the division of opinion among sages.

Verse 17 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.17)

लिङ्गानामयुतं कृत्वा पार्थिवानां सुबुद्धिमान् । निर्भयो हि भवेन्नूनं महाराजभयं हरेत् ॥ 21.17 ॥

liṅgānāmayutaṁ kṛtvā pārthivānāṁ subuddhimān nirbhayo hi bhavennūnaṁ mahārājabhayaṁ haret

The wise man who has ten thousand Parthiva lingas made surely becomes fearless — this removes even the fear of a mighty king.

Verse 18 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.18)

कारागृहादिमुक्त्यर्थमयुतं कारयेद् बुधः । डाकिन्यादिभये सप्तसहस्रं कारयेत्तथा ॥ 21.18 ॥

kārāgṛhādimuktyarthamayutaṁ kārayed budhaḥ ḍākinyādibhaye saptasahasraṁ kārayettathā

For freedom from imprisonment and the like, the wise should have ten thousand made; in fear of dakinis and the like too, seven thousand should be made.

Verse 19 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.19)

अपुत्रः पञ्चपञ्चाशत् सहस्राणि प्रकारयेत् । लिङ्गानामयुतेनैव कन्यकासन्ततिं लभेत् ॥ 21.19 ॥

aputraḥ pañcapañcāśat sahasrāṇi prakārayet liṅgānāmayutenaiva kanyakāsantatiṁ labhet

One without a son should have fifty-five thousand made; by ten thousand lingas alone, the continuation of one's lineage through a daughter is obtained.

Verse 20 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.20)

लिङ्गानामयुतेनैव विष्ण्वाद्यैश्वर्यमाप्नुयात् । लिङ्गानां प्रयुतेनैव ह्यतुलां श्रियमाप्नुयात् ॥ 21.20 ॥

liṅgānāmayutenaiva viṣṇvādyaiśvaryamāpnuyāt liṅgānāṁ prayutenaiva hyatulāṁ śriyamāpnuyāt

By ten thousand lingas alone, one attains lordship equal to Vishnu and the other gods; by one hundred thousand lingas alone, unequalled prosperity is attained.

Verse 21 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.21)

कोटिमेकां तु लिङ्गानां यः करोति नरो भुवि । शिव एव भवेत्सोऽपि नात्र कार्या विचारणा ॥ 21.21 ॥

koṭimekāṁ tu liṅgānāṁ yaḥ karoti naro bhuvi śiva eva bhavetso’pi nātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Whoever, on this earth, has one crore lingas made, becomes Shiva himself — there is no need for doubt in this matter.

Verse 22 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.22)

अर्चा पार्थिवलिङ्गानां कोटियज्ञफलप्रदा । भुक्तिदा मुक्तिदा नित्यं ततः कामार्थिनां नृणाम् ॥ 21.22 ॥

arcā pārthivaliṅgānāṁ koṭiyajñaphalapradā bhuktidā muktidā nityaṁ tataḥ kāmārthināṁ nṛṇām

Worship of Parthiva lingas bestows the fruit of a crore sacrifices; it constantly grants both enjoyment and liberation to men who desire wealth and other aims.

Verse 23 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.23)

विना लिङ्गार्चनं यस्य कालो गच्छति नित्यशः । महाहानिर्भवेत्तस्य दुर्वृत्तस्य दुरात्मनः ॥ 21.23 ॥

vinā liṅgārcanaṁ yasya kālo gacchati nityaśaḥ mahāhānirbhavettasya durvṛttasya durātmanaḥ

Whoever passes his time daily without worship of the linga — great loss befalls that person of wicked conduct and evil soul.

Verse 24 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.24)

एकतः सर्वदानानि व्रतानि विविधानि च । तीर्थानि नियमा यज्ञा लिङ्गार्चा चैकतः स्मृता ॥ 21.24 ॥

ekataḥ sarvadānāni vratāni vividhāni ca tīrthāni niyamā yajñā liṅgārcā caikataḥ smṛtā

On the one side stand all manner of gifts, various vows, pilgrimages, observances, and sacrifices; on the other, linga-worship alone — these two are held to be equal.

Verse 25 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.25)

कलौ लिङ्गार्चनं श्रेष्ठं यथा लोके प्रदृश्यते । तथान्यन्नास्ति शास्त्राणामेष सिद्धान्तनिश्चयः ॥ 21.25 ॥

kalau liṅgārcanaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ yathā loke pradṛśyate tathānyannāsti śāstrāṇāmeṣa siddhāntaniścayaḥ

In the Kali age, worship of the linga is best, as is seen in the world; there is nothing else among the scriptures equal to it — this is the settled conclusion of the Siddhanta.

Verse 26 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.26)

भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदं लिङ्गं विविधापन्निवारणम् । पूजयित्वा नरो नित्यं शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात् ॥ 21.26 ॥

bhuktimuktipradaṁ liṅgaṁ vividhāpannivāraṇam pūjayitvā naro nityaṁ śivasāyujyamāpnuyāt

The linga, which bestows both enjoyment and liberation and wards off manifold calamities — having worshipped it, a man daily attains union with Shiva.

Verse 27 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.27)

शिवनाममयं लिङ्गं नित्यं पूज्यं महर्षिभिः । यतश्च सर्वलिङ्गेषु तस्मात्पूज्यं विधानतः ॥ 21.27 ॥

śivanāmamayaṁ liṅgaṁ nityaṁ pūjyaṁ maharṣibhiḥ yataśca sarvaliṅgeṣu tasmātpūjyaṁ vidhānataḥ

The linga made resonant with Shiva's own names is daily worshipped by the great sages; and since it stands foremost among all lingas, it should therefore be worshipped according to rule.

Verse 28 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.28)

उत्तमं मध्यमं नीचं त्रिविधं लिङ्गमीरितम् । मानतो मुनिशार्दूलास्तच्छृणुध्वं वदाम्यहम् ॥ 21.28 ॥

uttamaṁ madhyamaṁ nīcaṁ trividhaṁ liṅgamīritam mānato muniśārdūlāstacchṛṇudhvaṁ vadāmyaham

The linga is said to be of three kinds by measure — best, middling, and lowest, O tigers among sages; listen, I shall tell you of that.

Verse 29 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.29)

चतुरङ्गुलमुच्छ्रायं रम्यं वेदिकया युतम् । उत्तमं लिङ्गमाख्यातं मुनिभिः शास्त्रकोविदैः ॥ 21.29 ॥

caturaṅgulamucchrāyaṁ ramyaṁ vedikayā yutam uttamaṁ liṅgamākhyātaṁ munibhiḥ śāstrakovidaiḥ

A linga four fingers in height, beautiful, furnished with a pedestal — this is declared the 'best' linga by sages skilled in scripture.

Verse 30 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.30)

तदर्द्धं मध्यमं प्रोक्तं तदर्द्धमधमं स्मृतम् । इत्थं त्रिविधमाख्यातमुत्तरोत्तरतः परम् ॥ 21.30 ॥

tadarddhaṁ madhyamaṁ proktaṁ tadarddhamadhamaṁ smṛtam itthaṁ trividhamākhyātamuttarottarataḥ param

Half of that is declared 'middling', and half again of that is held to be 'lowest'; thus this threefold linga has been described, each rank progressively superior to the last.

Verse 31 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.31)

अनेकलिङ्गं यो नित्यं भक्तिश्रद्धासमन्वितः । पूजयेत्स लभेत्कामान्मनसा मानसेप्सितान् ॥ 21.31 ॥

anekaliṅgaṁ yo nityaṁ bhaktiśraddhāsamanvitaḥ pūjayetsa labhetkāmānmanasā mānasepsitān

Whoever, filled with devotion and faith, daily worships many lingas, obtains whatever desires he holds in mind.

Verse 32 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.32)

न लिङ्गाराधनादन्यत्पुण्यं वेदचतुष्टये । विद्यते सर्वशास्त्राणामेष एव विनिश्चयः ॥ 21.32 ॥

na liṅgārādhanādanyatpuṇyaṁ vedacatuṣṭaye vidyate sarvaśāstrāṇāmeṣa eva viniścayaḥ

There is no merit in the four Vedas greater than the worship of the linga — this is the settled conclusion of all the scriptures.

Verse 33 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.33)

सर्वमेतत्परित्यज्य कर्मजालमशेषतः । भक्त्या परमया विद्वाँल्लिङ्गमेकं प्रपूजयेत् ॥ 21.33 ॥

sarvametatparityajya karmajālamaśeṣataḥ bhaktyā paramayā vidvā~lliṅgamekaṁ prapūjayet

Abandoning entirely this whole web of ritual actions, the wise one should worship a single linga with supreme devotion.

Verse 34 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.34)

लिङ्गेऽर्चितेऽर्चितं सर्वं जगत्स्थावरजङ्गमम् । संसाराम्बुधिमग्नानां नान्यत्तरणसाधनम् ॥ 21.34 ॥

liṅge’rcite’rcitaṁ sarvaṁ jagatsthāvarajaṅgamam saṁsārāmbudhimagnānāṁ nānyattaraṇasādhanam

In the worshipped linga, this whole moving and unmoving universe is thereby worshipped; for those drowning in the ocean of worldly existence, there is no other means of crossing over.

Verse 35 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.35)

अज्ञानतिमिरान्धानां विषयासक्तचेतसाम् । प्लवो नान्योऽस्ति जगति लिङ्गाराधनमन्तरा ॥ 21.35 ॥

ajñānatimirāndhānāṁ viṣayāsaktacetasām plavo nānyo’sti jagati liṅgārādhanamantarā

For those blinded by the darkness of ignorance, whose minds are attached to sense-objects, there is no other raft in this world besides the worship of the linga.

Verse 36 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.36)

हरिब्रह्मादयो देवा मुनयो यक्षराक्षसाः । गन्धर्वाश्चारणाः सिद्धा दैतेया दानवास्तथा ॥ 21.36 ॥

haribrahmādayo devā munayo yakṣarākṣasāḥ gandharvāścāraṇāḥ siddhā daiteyā dānavāstathā

Hari, Brahma and the other gods, sages, yakshas, rakshasas, gandharvas, charanas, siddhas, daityas, and danavas as well —

Verse 37 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.37)

नागाः शेषप्रभृतयो गरुडाद्याः खगास्तथा । सप्रजापतयश्चान्ये मनवः किन्नरा नराः ॥ 21.37 ॥

nāgāḥ śeṣaprabhṛtayo garuḍādyāḥ khagāstathā saprajāpatayaścānye manavaḥ kinnarā narāḥ

the nagas headed by Shesha, birds headed by Garuda too, and others together with the Prajapatis, the Manus, kinnaras, and men —

Verse 38 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.38)

पूजयित्वा महाभक्त्या लिङ्गं सर्वार्थसिद्धिदम् । प्राप्ताः कामानभीष्टांश्च तांस्तान्सर्वान्हृदि स्थितान् ॥ 21.38 ॥

pūjayitvā mahābhaktyā liṅgaṁ sarvārthasiddhidam prāptāḥ kāmānabhīṣṭāṁśca tāṁstānsarvānhṛdi sthitān

having worshipped with great devotion that linga which accomplishes every aim, all of them obtained precisely those desired wishes they held in their hearts.

Verse 39 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.39)

ब्राह्मणः क्षत्रियो वैश्यः शूद्रो वा प्रतिलोमजः । पूजयेत्सततं लिङ्गं तत्तन्मन्त्रेण सादरम् ॥ 21.39 ॥

brāhmaṇaḥ kṣatriyo vaiśyaḥ śūdro vā pratilomajaḥ pūjayetsatataṁ liṅgaṁ tattanmantreṇa sādaram

A brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya, shudra, or even one born of reversed union — all should constantly and reverently worship the linga with their own respective mantra.

Verse 40 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.40)

किं बहूक्तेन मुनयः स्त्रीणामपि तथान्यतः । अधिकारोऽस्ति सर्वेषां शिवलिङ्गार्चने द्विजाः ॥ 21.40 ॥

kiṁ bahūktena munayaḥ strīṇāmapi tathānyataḥ adhikāro’sti sarveṣāṁ śivaliṅgārcane dvijāḥ

What need is there of saying more, O sages — even women, and likewise all others too, have the right to worship the Shiva-linga, O brahmins.

Verse 41 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.41)

द्विजानां वैदिकेनापि मार्गेणाराधनं वरम् । अन्येषामपि जन्तूनां वैदिकेन न सम्मतम् ॥ 21.41 ॥

dvijānāṁ vaidikenāpi mārgeṇārādhanaṁ varam anyeṣāmapi jantūnāṁ vaidikena na sammatam

For twice-born brahmins, worship even by the Vedic path is best; for other living beings, worship by the Vedic path is not sanctioned.

Verse 42 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.42)

वैदिकानां द्विजानां च पूजा वैदिकमार्गतः । कर्तव्या नान्यमार्गेण इत्याह भगवान् शिवः ॥ 21.42 ॥

vaidikānāṁ dvijānāṁ ca pūjā vaidikamārgataḥ kartavyā nānyamārgeṇa ityāha bhagavān śivaḥ

The worship of Vedic brahmins should be performed only by the Vedic path, not by any other — so has Bhagavan Shiva declared.

Verse 43 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.43)

दधीचिगौतमादीनां शापेनादग्धचेतसाम् । द्विजानां जायते श्रद्धा नैव वैदिककर्मणि ॥ 21.43 ॥

dadhīcigautamādīnāṁ śāpenādagdhacetasām dvijānāṁ jāyate śraddhā naiva vaidikakarmaṇi

Because of the curse of Dadhichi, Gautama and others, whose minds had been consumed with anger, brahmins in later times no longer hold the same faith in Vedic ritual action.

Verse 44 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.44)

यो वैदिकमनादृत्य कर्म स्मार्तमथापि वा । अन्यत्समाचरेन्मर्त्यो न सङ्कल्पफलं लभेत् ॥ 21.44 ॥

yo vaidikamanādṛtya karma smārtamathāpi vā anyatsamācarenmartyo na saṅkalpaphalaṁ labhet

Whoever, a mortal, disregarding either the Vedic or the Smarta ritual action, performs some other course instead, does not obtain the fruit of his resolve.

Verse 45 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.45)

इत्थं कृत्वार्चनं शम्भोर्नैवेद्यान्तं विधानतः । पूजयेदष्टमूर्तीश्च तत्रैव त्रिजगन्मयीः ॥ 21.45 ॥

itthaṁ kṛtvārcanaṁ śambhornaivedyāntaṁ vidhānataḥ pūjayedaṣṭamūrtīśca tatraiva trijaganmayīḥ

Having thus performed the worship of Shambhu, according to rule, up through the naivedya offering, one should there itself also worship the eight forms comprising the three worlds.

Verse 46 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.46)

क्षितिरापोऽनलो वायुराकाशः सूर्यसोमकौ । यजमान इति त्वष्टौ मूर्तयः परिकीर्तिताः ॥ 21.46 ॥

kṣitirāpo’nalo vāyurākāśaḥ sūryasomakau yajamāna iti tvaṣṭau mūrtayaḥ parikīrtitāḥ

Earth, water, fire, air, ether, the sun, the moon, and the sacrificer — these are declared to be the eight forms.

Verse 47 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.47)

शर्वो भवश्च रुद्रश्च उग्रो भीम इतीश्वरः । महादेवः पशुपतिरेतान्मूर्तिभिरर्चयेत् ॥ 21.47 ॥

śarvo bhavaśca rudraśca ugro bhīma itīśvaraḥ mahādevaḥ paśupatiretānmūrtibhirarcayet

Sharva, Bhava, Rudra, Ugra, Bhima, Ishvara, Mahadeva, and Pashupati — with these names one should worship them.

Verse 48 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.48)

पूजयेत्परिवारं च ततः शम्भोः सुभक्तितः । ईशानादिक्रमात्तत्र चन्दनाक्षतपत्रकैः ॥ 21.48 ॥

pūjayetparivāraṁ ca tataḥ śambhoḥ subhaktitaḥ īśānādikramāttatra candanākṣatapatrakaiḥ

Then, in the order beginning with Ishana, with sandalwood paste, unbroken rice, and leaves, one should also worship Shambhu's retinue with great devotion.

Verse 49 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.49)

ईशानं नन्दिनं चण्डं महाकालं च भृङ्गिणम् । वृषं स्कन्दं कपर्दीशं सोमं शुक्रं च तत्क्रमात् ॥ 21.49 ॥

īśānaṁ nandinaṁ caṇḍaṁ mahākālaṁ ca bhṛṅgiṇam vṛṣaṁ skandaṁ kapardīśaṁ somaṁ śukraṁ ca tatkramāt

Ishana, Nandi, Chanda, Mahakala, Bhringi, Vrisha the bull, Skanda, Kapardisha, Soma, and Shukra — in this same order,

Verse 50 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.50)

अग्रतो वीरभद्रं च पृष्ठे कीर्तिमुखं तथा । तत एकादशान् रुद्रान्पूजयेद्विधिना ततः ॥ 21.50 ॥

agrato vīrabhadraṁ ca pṛṣṭhe kīrtimukhaṁ tathā tata ekādaśān rudrānpūjayedvidhinā tataḥ

in front, Virabhadra, and behind, Kirtimukha as well; then, according to rule, one should worship the eleven Rudras.

Verse 51 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.51)

ततः पञ्चाक्षरं जप्त्वा शतरुद्रियमेव च । स्तुतीर्नानाविधाः कृत्वा पञ्चाङ्गपठनं तथा ॥ 21.51 ॥

tataḥ pañcākṣaraṁ japtvā śatarudriyameva ca stutīrnānāvidhāḥ kṛtvā pañcāṅgapaṭhanaṁ tathā

Then, having chanted the Panchakshara and the Shatarudriya, having offered various hymns of praise, and having recited the five-limbed formula,

Verse 52 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.52)

ततः प्रदक्षिणां कृत्वा नत्वा लिङ्गं विसर्जयेत् । इति प्रोक्तमशेषं च शिवपूजनमादरात् ॥ 21.52 ॥

tataḥ pradakṣiṇāṁ kṛtvā natvā liṅgaṁ visarjayet iti proktamaśeṣaṁ ca śivapūjanamādarāt

then, having performed circumambulation and bowed down, one should dismiss the linga. Thus the entire procedure of Shiva-worship has been respectfully declared.

Verse 53 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.53)

रात्रावुदङ्मुखः कुर्याद् देवकार्यं सदैव हि । शिवार्चनं सदाप्येवं शुचिः कुर्यादुदङ्मुखः ॥ 21.53 ॥

rātrāvudaṅmukhaḥ kuryād devakāryaṁ sadaiva hi śivārcanaṁ sadāpyevaṁ śuciḥ kuryādudaṅmukhaḥ

At night, one should always perform divine rites facing north; likewise, one should always perform Shiva-worship, being pure, while facing north.

Verse 54 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.54)

न प्राचीमग्रतः शम्भोर्नोदीचीं शक्तिसंहिताम् । न प्रतीचीं यतः पृष्ठमतो ग्राह्यं समाश्रयेत् ॥ 21.54 ॥

na prācīmagrataḥ śambhornodīcīṁ śaktisaṁhitām na pratīcīṁ yataḥ pṛṣṭhamato grāhyaṁ samāśrayet

One should not stand facing Shambhu from the east, nor from the north together with Shakti, nor from the west — for that is reckoned as his back; therefore one should take up only the proper, fitting position.

Verse 55 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.55)

विना भस्मत्रिपुण्ड्रेण विना रुद्राक्षमालया । बिल्वपत्रं विना नैव पूजयेच्छङ्करं बुधः ॥ 21.55 ॥

vinā bhasmatripuṇḍreṇa vinā rudrākṣamālayā bilvapatraṁ vinā naiva pūjayecchaṅkaraṁ budhaḥ

Without ash and the tripundra mark, without a rudraksha rosary, without a bilva leaf — the wise should never worship Shankara.

Verse 56 (shiva.vidyeshvara.21.56)

भस्माप्राप्तौ मुनिश्रेष्ठाः प्रवृत्ते शिवपूजने । तस्मान्मृदापि कर्तव्यं ललाटे च त्रिपुण्ड्रकम् ॥ 21.56 ॥

bhasmāprāptau muniśreṣṭhāḥ pravṛtte śivapūjane tasmānmṛdāpi kartavyaṁ lalāṭe ca tripuṇḍrakam

O best of sages, if at the time of undertaking Shiva-worship ash is not available, then even with clay one should make the tripundra upon the forehead.