103 - Mode of repair of old or broken lingas 

The Lord said: 

1-2. Ishall describe the repairing of the lingas which have become old etc. as laid down. That one which is devoid of the characteristics, or broken or whose outlines have become blunt or that which is struck by lightning or cracked or broken or mutilated or damaged in any other wayshould be installed on its pedestal as also its bull. 

3-5. The lingas which have beenshaken (from their position) or which have become unsteady or which have been slantingly fixed or which lean towards a particular direction or those which have been fixed exactly at the centre (of the temple)should be reinstalled (in their places) if they are devoid of any cracks or if they have been washed by floods of river water etc. A linga of Siva duly reinstalled at a different place as laid downshould not be removed whether it has been perfectly fixed or improperly fixed. 

6. A lingashould be established by (offering) a hundred (oblations) and be removed by (offering) a thousand (oblations). If the linga is worshipped, it would set right even the old ones. 

7. After having erected a sacrificialshed either in the southern part or in the north-eastern part of the ground and an arch on the door on the western side and completed the worship of the guardian deities, worship with the mantras (is done) on the (sacrificial) ground. 

8-10. After having appeased with the mantras and worshipped the presiding deities of the ground as before and made offerings for the quarters outside, the preceptorshould sip waters (thrice). After having fed the brahmins, (lord) Sambhu (Śiva)should then be informed, “O (lord) sambhu! This linga is defective and is to be removed. O (lord) Siva graciously take thy seat in myself for a while if it pleases you”. After having submitted to the lord thus oneshould offer oblation of appease ment. 

11-12. (The preceptor) (should offer) one hundred and eight oblations with honey, clarified butter, milk, and dūrvå (a kind of grass). After having established the linga, itshould be worshipped on the ground then. (The Siva mantras for the worship are (as follows): “Om, to the all-pervading etc." "Om, obeisance to the lord of the heart, the pervading.” The anga mantras (those for assigning on the different parts of the body) are “Om obeisance to the pervading lord, to the head.” etc. Then the principle abiding thereinshould be addressed with the mantras of the weapon. 

13-17. (Then the preceptorshould say as follows): "Whichever good spirit that is lodged in this linga may go to its place of liking after leaving this linga by the command of (lord) Śiva. (Lord) Bhava (Siva) being attended to by the learning and the presiding deities of learning would remain here.” Then having made thousand oblations for each one of the (three) parts with the pasupata mantra, sprinkled waters of appeasement and touched with the kusa, (the preceptor)should repeat (the mantras). After having offered the arghya (waters for washing) in the reverse order to the (fundamental) principles and to the presiding deities of the principles, the preceptorshould bid farewell to the presiding deities of the eight manifestations (of lord Siva) located in the linga and the pedestal by binding them with a golden noose placed on theshoulders of the bull and leading them with the repetition of the mantras of (lord) Siva andshould put it in the waters. Then the preceptorshould offer hundred oblations in order to confer prosperity. 

18-22. One hundred oblations each (should be offered) to satisfy the presiding deities of the quarters and for the purification of the sacrificial ground. After having laid protection for that building with the (repetition of the mantra of) pasupata weapon, the preceptorshould establish another linga therein as laid down. (Lingas) established by demons, sages, brahmins belonging to the clan of renowned sages and those well-versed in the Tantras (class of literature dealing with magic and mystic formulations for the worship of different deities)should not be removed even as laid down, even though they may be old or broken. This is the procedure to be followed for replacing an old edifice. After having located the collection of mantras on the sword another edificeshould be made. If (the edifice is) made less spacious it is said to confer death (on the consecrator) and if made too spacious it would cause loss of wealth. Whether the same materials (are used) or better materials itshould be done well to be of the same measure as before.