Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

अकारौत्तरात्पूर्वमुकारः पश्चिमाननात् मकारो दक्षिणमुखाद्बिंदुः प्राङ्मुखतस्तथा

The syllable 'u' comes before the northern face, 'ka' from the western face, 'ma' from the southern face, and the bindu from the eastern face.

नादो मध्यमुखादेवं पञ्चधा ऽसौ विजृंभितः एकीभूतः पुनस्तद्वदोमित्येकाक्षरो भवेत्

The sound arises from the central face; thus, it expands in five ways; when united again, it becomes the single syllable 'Om' in the same manner.

नामरूपात्मकं सर्वं वेदभूतकुलद्वयम् व्याप्तमेतेन मंत्रेण शिवशक्त्योश्च बोधकः

All that exists, consisting of name and form, the two families of Veda, is pervaded by this mantra, and it reveals both Śiva and Śakti.

अस्मात्पञ्चाक्षरं जज्ञे बोधकं सकलस्यतत् आकारादिक्रमेणैव नकारादियथाक्रमम्

From this, the five-syllabled mantra was produced, which reveals all; in the order beginning with 'a' and likewise beginning with 'na'.

अस्मात्पञ्चाक्षराज्जाता मातृकाः पञ्चभेदतः तस्माच्छिरश्चतुर्वक्त्रात्त्रिपाद्गाय त्रिरेव हि

From this five-syllabled mantra arose the mothers in five divisions; therefore, from the head and four faces, the three-footed Gāyatrī is indeed threefold.

वेदः सर्वस्ततो जज्ञे ततो वै मंत्रकोटयः तत्तन्मंत्रेण तत्सिद्धिः सर्वसिद्धिरितो भवेत्

From that, all the Veda was born, and from that, countless mantras; by those mantras, their respective accomplishments, and from this, all attainments arise.

अनेन मंत्रकंदेन भोगो मोक्षश्च सिद्ध्यति सकला मंत्रराजानः साक्षाद्भोगप्रदाः शुभाः

By this root-mantra, both enjoyment and liberation are attained; all the kingly mantras directly bestow auspicious enjoyments.

पुनस्तयोस्तत्र तिरः पटं गुरुः प्रकल्प्य मंत्रं च समादिशत्परम् निधाय तच्छीर्ष्णि करांबुजं शनैरुदङ्मुखं संस्थितयोः सहांबिकः

Then, for those two, the teacher placed a veil there and instructed the supreme mantra, placing his lotus hand gently on their heads as they sat facing north, together with Ambikā.

त्रिरुच्चार्याग्रहीन्मंत्रं यंत्रतंत्रोक्तिपूर्वकम् शिष्यौ च तौ दक्षिणायामात्मानं च समर्पयत्

Having recited the mantra three times, as prescribed in the yantra and tantra texts, he offered those two disciples on his right, as well as himself.

प्रबद्धहस्तौ किल तौ तदंतिके तमेव देवं जगतुर्जगद्गुरुम्

With their hands bound, those two indeed, standing nearby, praised that very god, the teacher of the world.

नमो निष्कलरूपाय नमो निष्कलतेजसे नमः सकलनाथाय नमस्ते सकलात्मने

Salutations to the one of formless nature; salutations to the one of formless radiance; salutations to the lord of all forms; salutations to the soul of all.

प्रणववाच्याय नमः प्रणवलिंगिने नमः सृष्ट्यादिकर्त्रे च नमः पञ्चमुखायते

Salutations to the One denoted by the syllable Om, salutations to the One whose form is the Om-shaped liṅga, salutations to the Creator of creation and all that follows, salutations to the One with five faces.

पञ्चब्रह्मस्वरूपाय पञ्च कृत्यायते नमः आत्मने ब्रह्मणे तुभ्यमनंतगुणशक्तये

Salutations to the One who is the embodiment of the five Brahmas, who performs the five acts; to You, the Self, the Supreme, of infinite qualities and powers.

सकलाकलरूपाय शंभवे गुरवे नमः इति स्तुत्वा गुरुं पद्यैर्ब्रह्मा विष्णुश् च नेमतुः

Salutations to Śambhu, the Guru, who is of all and partless forms. Thus, having praised the Guru with verses, Brahmā and Viṣṇu bowed.

वत्सकौ सर्वतत्त्वं च कथितं दर्शितं च वाम् जपतं प्रणवं मंत्रं देवीदिष्टं मदात्मकम्

O dear ones, all the principles have been explained and shown to you. Recite the mantra Om, which was given by the Goddess and is of My own essence.

ज्ञानं च सुस्थिरं भाग्यं सर्वं भवति शाश्वतम् आर्द्रायां च चतुर्दश्यां तज्जाप्यं त्वक्षयं भवेत्

Through this, knowledge becomes firm, fortune becomes everlasting, and all is made eternal. On the fourteenth day, when Ardra is present, reciting this brings inexhaustible merit.

सूर्यगत्या महार्द्रायामेकं कोटिगुणं भवेत् मृगशीर्षांतिमो भागः पुनर्वस्वादिमस्तथा

When Ardra coincides with the Sun's course, the merit becomes ten million times greater. The final portion of Mṛgaśīrṣa and the beginning of Punarvasu are likewise auspicious.

आर्द्रासमः सदा ज्ञेयः पूजाहोमादितर्पणे दर्शनं तु प्रभाते च प्रातःसंगवकालयोः

Ardra should always be regarded as equal for worship, offerings, and oblations. The sight (of the liṅga) at dawn, during the time of early morning, is especially meritorious.

चतुर्दशी तथा ग्राह्या निशीथव्यापिनी भवेत् प्रदोषव्यापिनी चैव परयुक्ता प्रशस्यते

The fourteenth day that extends into midnight should be observed, and if it extends into the evening, it is especially praised.

लिंगं बेरं च मेतुल्यं यजतां लिंगमुत्तमम् तस्माल्लिंगं परं पूज्यं बेरादपि मुमुक्षुभिः

The liṅga and the image (bera) are considered equal for worship, but the liṅga is supreme. Therefore, those seeking liberation should worship the liṅga above the image.

लिंगमोंकारमंत्रेण बेरं पञ्चाक्षरेण तु स्वयमेव हि द्रव्यैः प्रतिष्ठाप्यं परैरपि

The liṅga should be established with the Om mantra, and the image with the five-syllable mantra. Both should be consecrated with proper materials, either by oneself or by others.

पूजयेदुपचारैश्च मत्पदं सुलभं भवेत् इति शास्य तथा शिष्यौ तत्रैवां ऽतर्हितः शिवः

By worshipping with offerings, My state is easily attained. Thus instructing the two disciples, Śiva disappeared right there.

कथं लिंगं प्रतिष्ठाप्यं कथं वातस्य लक्षणम् कथं वा तत्समभ्यर्च्यं देशे काले च केन हि

How should the liṅga be established? What are the characteristics of the site? How should it be worshipped, and in what place, time, and by whom?

युष्मदर्थं प्रवक्ष्यामि बुद्ध्यतामवधानतः अनुकूले शुभे काले पुण्ये तीर्थे तटे तथा

For your sake, I will explain—listen attentively. At an auspicious and favorable time, in a holy place or on a riverbank,

यथेष्टं लिंगमारोप्यं यत्र स्यान्नित्यमर्चनम् पार्थिवेन तथाप्येनं तैजसेन यथारुचि

The liṅga should be installed as desired, wherever regular worship can be performed—whether made of earth, stone, or metal, according to preference.

कल्पलक्षणसंयुक्तं लिंगं पूजाफलं लभेत् सर्वलक्षणसंयुक्तं सद्यः पूजाफलप्रदम्

A liṅga endowed with the marks of a wish-fulfilling tree grants the fruit of worship; one with all auspicious marks immediately bestows the fruit of worship.

चरे विशिष्यते सूक्ष्मं स्थावरे स्थूलमेव हि सलक्षणं सपीठं च स्थापयेच्छिवनिर्मितम्

The subtle form is especially praised for moving (portable) liṅgas, while the gross form is for fixed ones. It should be installed with marks and a pedestal, made according to Śiva's ordinance.

मंडलं चतुरस्रं वा त्रिकोणमथवा तथा खट्वांगवन्मध्यसूक्ष्मं लिंगपीठं महाफलं

The pedestal for the liṅga may be a square, a triangle, or like a club, with a subtle center. Such a liṅga-pedestal yields great fruit.

प्रथमं मृच्छिलादिभ्यो लिगं लोहादिभिः कृतम् येन लिंगं तेन पीठं स्थावरे हि विशिष्यते

First, the liṅga should be made from clay, stone, or similar materials, or from metals and the like. The pedestal should be made from the same material as the liṅga, and is especially suited for fixed installations.