Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

लिंगं पीठं चरे त्वेकं लिंगं बाणकृतं विना लिंगप्रमाणं कर्त्ःणां द्वादशांगुलमुत्तमम्

One should install a single liṅga and pedestal, except for a liṅga made by Bāṇa; the proper measure for the liṅga to be made is twelve aṅgulas, which is excellent.

न्यूनं चेत्फलमल्पं स्यादधिकं नैव दूष्यते कर्तुरेकांगुलन्यूनं चरेपि च तथैव हि

If it is less, the result will be small; if it is more, there is no fault. Even if the maker falls short by one aṅgula, the same applies.

आदौ विमानं शिल्पेन कार्यं देवगणैर्युतम् तत्र गर्भगृहे रम्ये दृढे दर्पणसंनिभो भूषिते

First, a temple should be constructed with skill, accompanied by groups of deities; within it, in a beautiful and strong sanctum, adorned like a mirror,

नवरत्नैश्च दिग्द्वारे च प्रधानकैः नीलं रक्तं च वै दूर्यं श्यामं मारकतं तथा

with nine gems at the cardinal doors as the main ones: sapphire, ruby, coral, crystal, and emerald as well,

मुक्ताप्रवालगोमेदवज्राणि नवरत्नकम् मध्ये लिंगं महद्द्रव्यं निक्षिपेत्सहवैदिके

pearl, coral, hessonite, diamond—the nine gems; in the center, a great substance should be placed along with Vedic rites.

संपूज्य लिंगं सद्याद्यैः पञ्चस्थाने यथाक्रमम् अग्नौ च हुत्वा बहुधा हविषास कलं च माम्

Having worshipped the liṅga with the prescribed offerings in the five places, and having made many offerings into the fire, one should also offer me a portion.

अभ्यर्च्य गुरुमाचार्यमर्थैः कामैश्च बांधवम् दद्यादैश्वर्यमर्थिभ्यो जडमप्यजडं तथा

Having honored the guru and teacher with wealth and desired objects, and relatives as well, one should give prosperity to those who seek it, even to the dull and the wise alike.

स्थावरं जंगमं जीवं सर्वं संतोष्य यत्नतः सुवर्णपूरिते श्वभ्रे नवरत्नैश्च पूरिते

Having satisfied with care all beings—immobile, mobile, and living—by filling a pit with gold and with the nine gems,

सद्यादि ब्रह्म चोच्चार्य ध्यात्वा देवं परं शुभम् उदीर्य च महामंत्रमोंकारं नादघोषितम्

Having recited the sadyādi-brahma, meditating on the supreme auspicious deity, and uttering the great mantra Oṃkāra, resounding with sound,

लिंगं तत्र प्रतिष्ठाप्य लिगं पीठेन योजयेत् लिंगं सपीठं निक्षिप्य नित्यलेपेन बंधयेत्

There, having established the liṅga, one should join the liṅga with the pedestal; having placed the liṅga with the pedestal, one should bind it with permanent cement.

एवं बेरं च संस्थाप्यं तत्रैव परमं शुभम् पञ्चाक्षरेण बेरं तु उत्सवार्थं वहिस्तथा

In this way, the image (bera) should also be installed there, supremely auspicious; the image is for festival purposes, to be taken outside, with the pañcākṣara mantra.

बेरं गुरुभ्यो गृह्णीयात्साधुभिः पूजितं तु वा एवं लिंगे च बेरे च पूजा शिवपदप्रदा

The image should be received from the gurus, or worshipped by the virtuous; thus, worship of both the liṅga and the image grants the state of Śiva.

पुनश्च द्विविधं प्रोक्तं स्थावरं जंगमं तथा स्थावरं लिंगमित्याहुस्तरुगुल्मादिकं तथा

Again, it is said to be of two kinds: immobile and mobile. The immobile is called the liṅga, such as trees, bushes, and the like.

जंगमं लिंगमित्याहुः कृमिकीटादिकं तथा स्थावरस्य च शुश्रूषा जंगमस्य च तर्पणम्

The mobile is called the liṅga, such as worms, insects, and the like. Service is for the immobile, and offerings are for the mobile.

तत्तत्सुखानुरागेण शिवपूजां विदुर्बुधाः पीठमंबामयं सर्वं शिवलिंगं च चिन्मयम्

The wise know that worship of Śiva is to be performed with affection for each kind of happiness; the pedestal is entirely made of Māyā, and the Śiva-liṅga is of pure consciousness.

यथा देवीमुमामंके धृत्वा तिष्ठति शंकरः तथा लिंगमिदं पीठं धृत्वा तिष्ठति संततम्

Just as Śaṅkara stands holding the goddess Umā on his lap, so too does this liṅga always stand holding the pedestal.

एवं स्थाप्य महालिंगं पूजयेदुपचारकैः नित्यपूजा यथा शक्तिध्वजादिकरणं तथा

Thus, having installed the great liṅga, one should worship it with offerings; daily worship should be performed as one is able, just as with the raising of the banner and other rites.

इति संस्थापयेल्लिंगं साक्षाच्छिवपदप्रदम् अथवा चरलिंगं तु षोडशैरुपचारकैः

Thus, one should install the liṅga, which directly grants the state of Śiva; or, if it is a movable liṅga, with sixteen offerings.

पूजयेच्च यथान्यायं क्रमाच्छिवपदप्रदम् आवाहनं चासनं च अर्घ्यं पाद्यं तथैव च

One should worship, according to proper order, that which bestows the state of Shiva, with invocation, offering of a seat, arghya, and likewise water for the feet.

तदंगाचमनं चैव स्नानमभ्यंगपूर्वकम् वस्त्रं गंधं तथा पुष्पं धूपं दीपं निवेदनम्

Then, with the ritual sipping of water, bathing preceded by anointing, clothing, fragrance, flowers, incense, lamp, and offering of food.