Sanatkumara says, O sage Vyasa, perform penance for the true object. The necessary object is Shiva. Otherwise, why are you performing penance here? Shri Vyasa said this to Sanatkumara,: Oh! sage, I have established the attainment of liberation from desires for the sake of righteousness, and I have also made people walk on the path of the Vedas. In this way, although I have established many different methods in the world and am a teacher to everyone, the reason for my being like this is your grace. In this way, being a teacher to everyone, I am surprised that I do not know the method that is the means to liberation. I do not know the reason. Therefore, I am performing penance for liberation. After Vyasa expressed his opinion in this way, Sanatkumara began to explain the reason for liberation. O Vyasa, the three means of connection with the Divine - hearing, singing, and meditation - are the means of liberation. That is, hearing, thinking, and meditation are the reasons for the vision of Shiva. Previously, I, in my delusional yearning for liberation, sought refuge with other means and performed penance on the immovable Mandara mountain. Then, as per the command of Shiva, the venerable Nandikeshwara came near me. That venerable one was kind, omniscient, and the leader of the ganas of shiva. Such a great one told me thus. Out of friendship for me, he told me that the Vedas say that hearing, meditating, and chanting Shiva's hymns are the means to liberation.
It has been said by Shiva himself that these three methods are the means of liberation. Therefore, O sage, you too should practice the same again and again. Thus, after informing Sri Vyasa Muni of these supreme achievements of liberation, Sanatkumara, along with his family, departed for the sacred and auspicious Brahmaloka in his Vimana. when sage says, "Thus I have briefly related to you the previous account," the sages say, "O great sage suta! You have only said about the three upayas." "Tell us how people who are weak in the senses of hearing can attain liberation, and by what action liberation can be attained without much effort," he said. Here ends the fourth chapter in the Videshwara Samhita of the Shri Shiva Purana, in the section on possible achievements. The Suttas say, "Listen, O sages! One who is not capable of hearing, meditating, and chanting hymns can cross the ocean of samsara by establishing a linga or an idol of God and worshipping it with unwavering devotion every day." Similarly, one should collect as many worship materials as one can afford and offer them continuously, without hesitation, to either the linga or the idol. That is, for the worship of God, the mantapa, gopura, tirtha, matha, kshetra should be dedicated to Shiva Puja. Similarly, festivals should be held. Similarly, clothes, incense, garlands, incense, and lamps should be offered with devotion.
Various types of rice, sweets, and dishes that are included in the meal should be offered to the Lord. Afterwards, royal requisites such as an umbrella, flag, fan, and chamara should also be offered as offerings. Shiva should be pleased with all the treats, just as how a king is treated. All these treats can be offered to the Linga or the idol. Then, circumambulation, salutations, and chanting should be done at the place of worship. Daily worship can be offered to the Lord in the form of a linga or idol, invoking the Lord's name. Therefore, even though they gave up hearing, meditation, and chanting, many people in the past attained liberation simply by contemplating the linga in this way.
O great sage Suta, all the gods are worshipped only in idols. But how can Shiva be worshipped in both the linga and idols form? That is, they say that 'the mind is the cause of human bondage in samsara and the supreme goal in liberation'. The Suttas say, "O sage, the question you have asked is most wonderful and most virtuous. Only the Supreme Lord is capable of answering your question. Otherwise, other men are not even qualified to describe these thoughts." However, I will tell you what has been said by Shiva himself and has been heard regularly by Gurus. Shiva alone is the form of Brahma. He is the formless form, that is, without form. He is everywhere like the sky. That means formless. Because He has assumed many forms (Brahma, Vishnu, etc.), he is all-pervading, formless. Because He is composed of forms, He is also an idol and is embodied.
Since He is pure and formless, the form of the Linga is also worthy of His worship. The one who has an idol, therefore, is exalted and praised by words such as Brahma. That is why God is worshipped by people in both the linga and the idol. Since other gods are formless, except for Shiva, other gods are worshipped in idols. Since other deities are not Brahma and are living beings, deities are not worshipped in the pure form of the Linga. The other gods are worshipped in the form of idols. Therefore, they are living beings. Shankara alone is the form of Brahma. The Vedas also praise this formless form as Omkara. It is called Brahma. The entire Vedanta is revealed in the meaning of om. This same thought was asked by Sanatkumar on Mandara Parvatha earlier to nandikeshwara. Sanatkumar, the son of Brahma and the wise man, asked Nandikeshwar in this way. We have heard and seen that everywhere, besides Shiva, other deities are worshipped only in idols. We have seen it in many places. Only Shiva is worshipped in both lingam and idols. So tell me what is the auspicious principle of this, then Nandikeshwara says. Now there is no answer to this question. It is very mysterious. And it is also of character of lord brahma. However, for you, a devoted devotee, I will tell you what was previously said by Shiva. Shiva, being the form of Brahma, is formless because of his perfection.
Worshipping this kind of Linga is approved in all the Vedas. God can be worshipped in both. Therefore, the worship of Shiva in all its forms and in its entirety is the norm in the world. Since other gods besides Shiva are alive, it is said that they should all be worshipped as idols. Only Shiva has both form and formlessness, so he will be visible. Sanatkumar says. O great lord, the thoughts of the Linga and the idols were told by you. Therefore, we want to hear separately about the ideas of Shiva and the different idols, their origin, and then Nandikeshwara says. O Vatsa, listen to the one who tells you the true idea with love. In the previous Kalpa, when Mahakala did not appear in the world, the two great gods Brahma and Vishnu were fighting each other for supremacy. To dispel their pride, the Lord appeared among them in the form of a formless pillar. Then, with the pillar that identified his form, Shiva manifested the formless linga form for the benefit of the world. From that time on, the formless form of Shiva, the lingam, and the idol of Shiva, the all-encompassing form, were especially worshipped in the world.
Except for Shiva, only the idol became famous for the gods. The idol worship of gods other than Shiva is auspicious as it gives the devotees earthly and heavenly pleasures, and the respective idol worship is auspicious as it gives the pleasure of the respective deity.
