Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

नीराजनं च तांबूलं नमस्कारो विसर्जनम् अथवा ऽर्घ्यादिकं कृत्वा नैवेद्यां तं यथाविधि

Also waving of lights, betel, obeisance, and dismissal; or, after offering arghya and the like, one should properly present the food offering.

अथाभिषेकं नैवेद्यं नमस्कारं च तर्पणम् यथाशक्ति सदाकुर्यात्क्रमाच्छिवपदप्रदम्

Then, one should always perform, as able and in due order, the ablution, food offering, obeisance, and libation, all leading to the state of Shiva.

अथवा मानुषे लिंगेप्यार्षे दैवे स्वयंभुवि स्थापिते ऽपूर्वके लिंगे सोपचारं यथा तथा

Or, whether the liṅga is man-made, Vedic, divine, self-manifested, established, or unprecedented, one should worship it with proper offerings as appropriate.

पूजोपकरणे दत्ते यत्किंचित्फलमश्नुते प्रदक्षिणानमस्कारैः क्रमाच्छिवपदप्रदम्

Whatever worship implements are given, one attains some fruit; by circumambulation and obeisance in order, one attains the state of Shiva.

लिंगं दर्शनमात्रं वा नियमेन शिवप्रदम् मृत्पिष्टगोशकृत्पुष्पैः करवीरेण वा फलैः

Even merely seeing the liṅga, according to rule, bestows Shiva; with clay, cow dung, flowers, oleander, or fruits.

गुडेन नवनीतेन भस्मनान्नैर्यथारुचि लिंगं यत्नेन कृत्वांते यजेत्तदनुसारतः

With jaggery, fresh butter, ashes, or cooked rice as one wishes, having made the liṅga with effort, one should worship it accordingly in the end.

अंगुष्ठादावपि तथा पूजामिच्छंति केचन लिंगकर्मणि सर्वत्र निषेधोस्ति न कर्हिचित्

Some desire to worship even on the thumb and so on; in the rites of the liṅga, there is never any prohibition anywhere.

सर्वत्र फलदाता हि प्रयासानुगुणं शिवः अथवा लिंगदानं वा लिंगमौल्यमथापि वा

For Shiva is the giver of results everywhere, according to the effort; or by gifting a liṅga, or by crowning a liṅga.

श्रद्धया शिवभक्ताय दत्तं शिवपदप्रदम् अथवा प्रणवं नित्यं जपेद्दशसहस्रकम्

Given with faith to a devotee of Shiva, it bestows the state of Shiva; or, one may always recite the praṇava ten thousand times.

संध्ययोश्च सहस्रं वा ज्ञेयं शिवपदप्रदम् जपकाले मकारांतं मनःशुद्धिकरं भजेत्

Or a thousand times at each twilight—this is known to bestow the state of Shiva; at the time of recitation, one should worship the praṇava ending with 'ma', which purifies the mind.