Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

त्रिकं च साधनं मुक्तौ शिवेन मम भाषितम् श्रवणादिं ब्रह्मन्कुरुष्वेति मुहुर्मुहुः

This threefold means for liberation was spoken to me by Śiva himself: ‘O Brāhman, repeatedly practice hearing and the rest.’

एवमुक्त्वा ततो व्यासं सानुगो विधिनंदनः जगाम स्वविमानेन पदं परमशोभनम्

Having thus spoken, the joyful Lord, accompanied by his followers, departed in his own splendid aerial chariot to the most excellent abode.

एवमुक्तं समासेन पूर्ववृत्तांतमुत्तमम् श्रवणादित्रयं सूत मुक्त्योपायस्त्वयेरितः

Thus, in summary, the excellent former account has been told; O Sūta, the threefold means beginning with hearing has been declared by you as the way to liberation.

श्रवणादित्रिके ऽशक्तः किं कृत्वा मुच्यते जनः अयत्नेनैव मुक्तिः स्यात्कर्मणा केन हेतुना

If one is unable to practice the triad beginning with hearing, by doing what does a person become liberated? By what action, without effort, does liberation arise?

श्रवणादित्रिके ऽशक्तो लिंगं बेरं च शांकरम् संस्थाप्य नित्यमभ्यर्च्य तरेत्संसारसागरम्

If one is unable to practice the triad beginning with hearing, one should establish a liṅga or image of Śaṅkara, worship it daily, and thus cross the ocean of worldly existence.

अपि द्रव्यं वहेदेव यथाबलमवंचयन् अर्पयेल्लिंगबेरार्थमर्चयेदपि संततम्

Even if one can only bring materials according to one’s ability, without deceit, one should offer them for the sake of the liṅga or image and worship continually.

मंडपं गोपुरं तीर्थं मठं क्षेत्रं तथोत्सवम् वस्त्रं गंधं च माल्यं च धूपं दीपं च भक्तितः

With devotion, one should offer a pavilion, gateway, sacred place, monastery, field, festival, cloth, fragrance, garland, incense, and lamp.

विविधान्नं च नैवेद्यमपूपव्यंजनैर्युतम् छत्रं ध्वजं च व्यजनं चामरं चापि सांगकम्

One should also offer various foods as offerings, accompanied by cakes and side dishes, an umbrella, banner, fan, and chowrie with all their accessories.

राजोपचारवत्सर्वं धारयेल्लिंगबेरयोः प्रदक्षिणां नमस्कारं यथाशक्ति जपं तथा

One should provide all royal honors to the liṅga and image, perform circumambulation, salutation, and recitation as able.

आवाहनादिसर्गांतं नित्यं कुर्यात्सुभक्तितः इत्थमभ्यर्च्य यन्देवं लिंगेबेरे च शांकरे

With great devotion, one should daily perform the rituals from invocation to conclusion; thus worshipping the Lord in the liṅga and image of Śaṅkara.

सिद्धिमेति शिवप्रीत्या हित्वापि श्रवणादिकम् लिंगबेरार्चनामात्रान्मुक्ताः पुर्वे महाजनाः

By Śiva’s grace, one attains success even if hearing and the rest are abandoned; the great ones of old were liberated merely by worshipping the liṅga and image.

बेरमात्रे तु सर्वत्र पूज्यंते देवतागणाः लिंगेबेरे च सर्वत्र कथं संपूज्यते शिवः

Everywhere, the hosts of deities are worshipped only in the form of images; but how is Shiva worshipped everywhere in both the linga and the image?

अहो मुनीश्वराः पुण्यं प्रश्नमेतन्महाद्भुतम् अत्र वक्ता महादेवो नान्यो ऽस्ति पुरुषः क्वचित्

Ah, O great sages, this question is virtuous and most wondrous; in this matter, only Mahadeva is the speaker, for there is no other person anywhere.

शिवेनोक्तं प्रवक्ष्यामि क्रमाद्गुरुमुखाच्छ्रुतम् शिवैको ब्रह्मरूपत्वान्निष्कलः परिकीर्तितः

I shall declare what was spoken by Shiva, as heard in succession from the teacher’s mouth: Shiva alone, because he is of the nature of Brahman, is called 'without parts.'

रूपित्वात्सकलस्तद्वत्तस्मात्सकलनिष्कलः निष्कलत्वान्निराकारं लिंगं तस्य समागतम्

Because he has form, he is also with parts; thus, he is both with and without parts. Due to being without parts, his linga is formless and united with him.

सकलत्वात्तथा बेरं साकारं तस्य संगतम् सकलाकलरूपत्वाद्ब्रह्मशब्दाभिधः परः

Because he is with parts, the image is his form; because he is of the nature of both with and without parts, he is called by the word 'Brahman,' the supreme.

अपि लिंगे च बेरे च नित्यमभ्यर्च्यते जनैः अब्रह्मत्वात्तदन्येषां निष्कलत्वं न हि क्वचित्

Indeed, both the linga and the image are always worshipped by people; because the others are not Brahman, they are never without parts.

तस्मात्ते निष्कले लिंगे नाराध्यंते सुरेश्वराः अब्रह्मत्वाच्च जीवत्वात्तथान्ये देवतागणाः

Therefore, the linga that is without parts is not worshipped by the lords of the gods; and because the others are not Brahman and are living beings, so too are the other hosts of deities.

तूष्णीं सकलमात्रत्वादर्च्यंते बेरमात्रके जीवत्वं शंकरान्येषां ब्रह्मत्वं शंकरस्य च

Only the image, being with parts, is worshipped in silence; the others are living beings, O Shankara, but Shankara alone is Brahman.

वेदांतसारसंसिद्धं प्रणवार्थे प्रकाशनात् एवमेव पुरा पृष्टो मंदरे नन्दिकेश्वरः

Because it is established by the essence of Vedanta and revealed by the meaning of the Pranava, in the past, Nandikeshvara was questioned on Mandara in the same way.

सनत्कुमारमुनिना ब्रह्मपुत्रेण धीमता शिवान्यदेववश्यानां सर्वेषामपि सर्वतः

By Sanatkumara, the wise sage and son of Brahma, was asked about Shiva and the other dependent deities, concerning all of them everywhere.

बेरमात्रं च पूजार्थं श्रुतं दृष्टं च भूरिशः शिवमात्रस्य पूजायां लिंगं बेरं च दृश्यते

The image alone is heard and seen often as the object of worship; in the worship of Shiva alone, both the linga and the image are observed.

अतस्तद्ब्रूहि कल्याण तत्त्वं मे साधुबोधनम् अनुत्तरमिमं प्रश्नं रहस्यं ब्रह्मलक्षणम्

Therefore, tell me, O auspicious one, the true principle for my good understanding; this unsurpassed question is the secret, the mark of Brahman.

कथयामि शिवेनोक्तं भक्तियुक्तस्य ते ऽनघ शिवस्य ब्रह्मरूपत्वान्निष्कलत्वाच्च निष्कलम्

I shall relate to you what was spoken by Shiva, O sinless one, with devotion: because Shiva is of the nature of Brahman and is without parts, he is without parts.

लिंगं तस्यैव पूजायां सर्ववेदेषु संमतम् तस्यैव सकलत्वाच्च तथा सकलनिष्कलम्

His linga alone is accepted in all the Vedas for worship; and because he is with parts, so too is he both with and without parts.

सकलं च तथा बेरं पूजायां लोकसंमतम् शिवान्येषां च जीवत्वात्सकलत्वाच्च सर्वतः

Similarly, the image is accepted everywhere for worship; and because the others are living beings and with parts, so it is everywhere.

बेरमात्रं च पूजायां संमतं वेदनिर्णये स्वाविर्भावे च देवानां सकलं रूपमेव हि

The image alone is accepted for worship according to the Vedic decision; and when the gods manifest, only the form with parts appears.

शिवस्य लिंगं बेरं च दर्शने दृश्यते खलु उक्तं त्वया महाभाग लिंगबेरप्रचारणम्

The linga and the image of Shiva are indeed seen in vision; O fortunate one, you have spoken of the propagation of the linga and image.

शिवस्य च तदन्येषां विभज्य परमार्थतः तस्मात्तदेव परमं लिंगबेरादिसंभवम्

The distinction between Shiva and the others is made in ultimate reality; therefore, that alone is supreme, arising from the linga and image and so forth.