Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

शिवं यः पूजयेन्नित्यं कृत्वालिंगं तु पार्थिवम् यावज्जीवनपर्यंतं स याति शिवमन्दिरम्

Whoever worships Śiva daily, having made an earthly liṅga, until the end of his life, goes to the abode of Śiva.

मृडेनाप्रमितान्वर्षाञ्छिवलोकेहि तिष्ठति सकामः पुनरागत्य राजेन्द्रोभारतेभवेत्

With clay, he dwells for countless years in the world of Śiva, enjoying his desires, and returning again, he becomes a king in Bhārata.

निष्कामः पूजयेन्नित्यं पार्थिवंलिंगमुत्तमम् शिवलोके सदा तिष्ठेत्ततः सायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

If one worships the supreme earthly liṅga daily, without desire, he always dwells in the world of Śiva and then attains union with him.

पार्थिवं शिवलिंगं च विप्रो यदि न पूजयेत् सयातिनरकंघोरंशूलप्रोतं सुदारुणम्

If a brāhmaṇa does not worship the earthly Śiva liṅga, he goes to a terrible hell, pierced by spears, exceedingly dreadful.

यथाकथंचिद्विधिनारम्यं लिंगं प्रकारयेत् पञ्चसूत्रविधानां च पार्थिवेन विचारयेत्

In whatever way, according to the rules, one should fashion a beautiful liṅga, and with the five procedures, consider it with earth.

अखण्डंतद्धिकर्तव्यंनविखण्डंप्रकारयेत् द्विखण्डंतुप्रकुर्वाणोनैवपूजाफलंलभेत्

That which is whole should be made and not divided; one should display it undivided. But if one makes it in two parts, he will not obtain the fruit of worship.

रत्नजं हेमजं लिंगं पारदं स्फाटिकं तथा पार्थिवं पुष्परागोत्थमखंडं तु प्रकारयेत्

A liṅga made of gems, gold, mercury, crystal, or earth, or arising from flowers and gems, should be fashioned whole.

अखंडं तु चरं लिंगंद्विखंडमचरं स्मृतम् खंडाखंडविचारोयं सचराचरयोः स्मृतः

The moving liṅga is considered whole; the unmoving is regarded as two-parted. This inquiry into whole and divided is remembered regarding both moving and unmoving.

वेदिकातुमहाविद्यालिंगंदेवो महेश्वरः अतो हि स्थावरेलिंगे स्मृताश्रेष्ठादिखंडिता

The great god Maheśvara is the liṅga of the altar and supreme knowledge. Therefore, among unmoving liṅgas, the divided ones are considered the best.

द्विखंडंस्थावरंलिंगंकर्तव्यंहिविधानतः अखंडंजंगमंप्रोक्तंशैवसिद्धान्तवेदिभिः

The unmoving liṅga should be made in two parts according to the rule; the moving is declared whole by those versed in Śaiva doctrine.

द्विखंडंतुचरांलिंगंकुर्वन्त्यज्ञानमोहिताः नैवसिद्धान्तवेत्तारो मुनयः शास्त्रकोविदाः

Those who make the moving liṅga in two parts are deluded by ignorance; neither the knowers of doctrine nor the sages skilled in scripture do so.

अखंडंस्थावरंलिंगंद्विखंडंचरमेवच येकुर्वन्तिनरामूढानपूजाफलभागिनः

Those who make the unmoving liṅga whole and the moving in two parts are not foolish people, and they are recipients of the fruit of worship.

तस्माच्छास्त्रोक्तविधिना अखंडंचरसंज्ञकम् द्विखंडं स्थावरं लिंगं कर्तव्यं परया मुदा

Therefore, according to the method prescribed in scripture, one should make the moving liṅga whole, and the unmoving liṅga in two parts, with supreme joy.

अखंडे तु चरे पूजासम्पूर्णफलदायिनी द्विखंडे तु चरे पूजामहाहानिप्रदा स्मृता

Worship of the whole moving liṅga grants complete results; worship of the two-parted moving liṅga is said to cause great loss.

अखंडे स्थावरे पूजा न कामफलदायिनी प्रत्यवायकरीनित्यमित्युक्तंशास्त्रवेदिभिः

Worship of the whole unmoving liṅga does not grant the desired fruit; it is always said by those learned in scripture to cause obstacles.

अथ वैदिकभक्तानां पार्थिवार्चां निगद्यते वैदिकेनैवमार्गेणभुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायिनी

Now, the worship of the earthen liṅga for Vedic devotees is described; by the Vedic path, it grants both enjoyment and liberation.

सूत्रोक्तविधिनास्नात्वासंध्यां कृत्वा यथाविधि ब्रह्मयज्ञंविधायादौततस्तर्पणमाचरेत्

Having bathed according to the rule stated in the sūtras, performed the sandhyā, and conducted the Brahma-yajña, one should then carry out the offering.

शिवस्मरणपूर्वं हि भस्मरुद्राक्षधारकः

Indeed, before remembering Śiva, one should wear ashes and rudrākṣa beads.

वेदोक्ताविधिना सम्यक्संपूर्णफलसिद्धये पूजयेत्परयाभक्त्यापार्थिवंलिंगमुत्तमम्

By the method prescribed in the Vedas, for the attainment of complete results, one should worship the supreme earthen liṅga with utmost devotion.

नदीतीरे तडागे च पर्वतेकानने ऽपिच शिवालये शुचौ देशे पार्थिवार्चा विधीयते

On the riverbank, in a pond, on a mountain, in a forest, or in a temple of Śiva, in a pure place, the worship of the earthen liṅga is prescribed.

शुद्धप्रदेशसंभूतां मृदमाहृत्य यत्नतः शिवलिंगं प्रकल्पेत सावधानतया द्विजाः

Having carefully collected earth from a pure place, the twice-born should fashion the Śiva liṅga with attentiveness.

विप्रे गौरा स्मृता शोणा बाहुजे पीतवर्णका वैश्येकृष्णा पादजाते ह्यथवा यत्र या भवेत्

For a brāhmaṇa, white is remembered; for a kṣatriya, red; for a vaiśya, yellow on the arms; for a śūdra, black on the feet, or whatever color may be found.

संगृह्यमृत्तिकांलिंगनिर्माणार्थंप्रयत्नतः अतीवशुभदेशेचस्थापयेत्तांमृदंशुभाम्

Carefully gathering clay for the purpose of making the liṅga, one should place that auspicious earth in a highly auspicious place.

संशोध्यचजलेनापिपिंडीकृत्य शनैः शनैः विधीयेतशुभंलिंगंपार्थिवंवेदमार्गतः

Having purified the clay, one should gently and gradually form it into a lump; thus, according to the Vedic path, the auspicious earthen liṅga should be fashioned.

ततः संपूजयेद्भक्त्याभुक्तिमुक्तिफलाप्तये तत्प्रकारमहंवच्मिशृणुध्वंसंविधानतः

Then, with devotion, one should worship it to attain the fruits of enjoyment and liberation; I shall now declare the procedure—listen to this arrangement.

नमः शिवायमंत्रेणार्चनंद्रव्यंचप्रोक्षयेत् भूरसीतिचमंत्रेणक्षेत्रसिद्धिंप्रकारयेत्

With the mantra 'Salutation to Śiva,' one should sprinkle the worship materials; with the mantra 'The earth was,' one should establish the sanctity of the site.

आपोस्मानितिमंत्रेणजलसंस्कारमाचरेत् नमस्ते रुद्रमंत्रेण फाटिकाबंधमुच्यते

With the mantra 'You are water,' one should perform the purification with water; with the mantra 'Salutations to you, Rudra,' the binding of the crystal is prescribed.

शंभवायेतिमंत्रेणक्षेत्रशुद्धिं प्रकारयेत् नमः पूर्वेण कुर्यात्पञ्चामृतस्यापि प्रोक्षणम्

With the mantra 'To Śambhu,' one should purify the site; with the earlier salutation, one should sprinkle the five nectars as well.

नीलग्रीवायमंत्रेणनमःपूर्वेणभक्तिमान् चरेच्छंकरलिंगस्यप्रतिष्ठापनमुत्तमम्

With the mantra 'To the blue-throated one,' and with the earlier salutation, the devotee should perform the excellent installation of the Śaṃkara liṅga.