Elements of Hindu Iconography v2.c16.36

v2.c16.36

form of all wisdom, and also Dēvī; whose possession are the three worlds, unchangeable in the universe, ever united, through whose union the essence of all things is mingled, the seed from which the world is born—do I reverence.” In the *Śiva-Liṅga-Pratiṣṭhā-vidhi*, the author Aghorā-Śivācārya gives a mantra which runs thus: *Umāyai bhaga-rūpiṇyai liṅga-rūpadharāya ca Śaṅkarāya namastubhyam*........; and which means I salute Umā who is in the form of bhaga and Śaṅkara is in the form of Liṅga. We learn from the *Siddhāntasārāvaḷi* that the bringing about the union of the *pīṭha* which is the symbol of Śakti and the *liṅga*, that of Śiva, in accordance with the rules laid down in Śaiva *śāstras* is called *pratiṣṭhā*.* We