The Parthiva Lingam

The rishis said

Suta, you are blessed; may you live long. You are Shiva's devotee and have spoken well of the greatness of the lingam and the fruits it gives. Vyasa spoke of Mahesha's Parthiva lingam as the best. Please tell us again now of its greatness.

Suta replied

Rishis, all of you listen with devotion to everything. I will speak of the greatness of Shiva's Parthiva lingam. The Parthiva lingam is called the best among all lingams. Many brahmanas have gained success by worshipping it. Brahmanas, by worshipping the Parthiva lingam, Hari, Brahma, the rishis and the Prajapatis gained all they wished for. Many others have gained supreme success by worshipping it: gods, asuras, humans, gandharvas, uragas and rakshasas. In krita yuga lingams were made of jewels. In treta they were made of gold. In dvapara they were made of mercury. In kali yuga Parthiva lingams are regarded as the best. Among all his eight images, the earthen image is regarded as the best. Brahmanas, since the austerity and worship of this are unique, it gives great fruits. Among the gods, Maheshvara is the oldest and best, and in the same way, among all lingams, the Parthiva is called the best. Among rivers the river of the gods is the oldest and best, and so among lingams the Parthiva is the best. Among mantras Pranava is remembered as the greatest, and so the Parthiva lingam is most fit to be worshipped and its worship the best. Among varnas the brahmana is called the best, and so among lingams the Parthiva. Among cities Kashi is called the best, and so among lingams the Parthiva. Among vows the Shiva Ratri vow is supreme, and so among lingams the Parthiva. Among goddesses Shiva Shakti is supreme, and so among lingams the Parthiva. If one worships any other god instead of the Parthiva lingam, that worship is useless, and bathing and giving are fruitless. A worshipper of the Parthiva lingam is purified and blessed. He has a long life, and gains contentment, nourishment and prosperity. All supreme practitioners must do this. For success in gaining all that is desired, one should worship the Parthiva lingam with faith and devotion and whatever offerings are available. A person who worships the Parthiva lingam on an auspicious altar gains beauty and prosperity in this world, and at the end is born as Rudra.

Listen: a person who worships the Parthiva lingam with bilva leaves at the three sandhyas every day gains auspicious fruits for twenty-one births. In his own body he gains greatness in Rudra's world. When he is seen or touched, the sins of all mortals are dispelled. Doubtless he is freed while living, possessing knowledge. He is Shiva. As soon as one sees or touches him, one gains pleasures and liberation. A person who makes a Parthiva lingam and worships Shiva every day, or visits Shiva's temple as long as he lives, stays in Shiva's world for many years in Shiva's presence. If he worshipped with desire in mind, he is reborn and becomes a lord among kings in Bharata. If he always worshipped the excellent Parthiva lingam without desires, he stays in Shiva's world always and gains sayujya. A brahmana who does not worship the Parthiva lingam every day goes to a terrible hell and is impaled with an extremely terrible trident. One should try by any means to devise a lingam. One should check whether the Parthiva lingam satisfies the panchasutri norms. The lingam must be of a single piece. Separate pieces must not be joined to make it; for example, if two pieces are joined, one will not gain the fruits of the puja. Whether made of a jewel, gold, mercury, crystal or yellow sapphire, the Parthiva lingam must be of a single piece. All Chara lingams must be of a single piece. It is said that fixed lingams can be of two pieces. Depending on whether it is a Chara or a fixed lingam, one thinks of a single piece or more than one. The base is Mahavidya and the lingam proper is the god Maheshvara. That is why fixed lingams are said to be best when they consist of two pieces. By the rules a fixed lingam must be made of two pieces. Those who know the Shaiva texts say a portable lingam must be a single piece. Those who say a Chara lingam can be of two different pieces are deluded in their knowledge, and sages who know the sacred texts do not agree with that conclusion. Foolish men make a fixed lingam of a single piece and a portable lingam of two pieces, and they gain no fruit from the puja. So the rule of the sacred texts is that whatever is called a Chara lingam must be of a single piece and a fixed lingam of two pieces. Then one gains supreme happiness. Worshipping a Chara lingam made of a single piece gives complete fruits. Worshipping a Chara lingam made of two pieces is said to lead to great harm. Worshipping a fixed lingam made of a single piece does not give the fruits desired. One must never act against what the sacred texts have said.