Shloka 15

Mahādeva’s Boon: Unwavering Bhakti, Tri-functional Cosmos, and the Supratiṣṭhā of Liṅga-Arcā

Devanagari script

तदाप्रभृति लोकेषु लिङ्गार्चा सुप्रतिष्ठिता लिङ्गवेदी महादेवी लिङ्गं साक्षान्महेश्वरः

Transliteration

tadāprabhṛti lokeṣu liṅgārcā supratiṣṭhitā liṅgavedī mahādevī liṅgaṃ sākṣānmaheśvaraḥ

Translation

Von da an wurde in allen Welten die Verehrung des Liṅga fest begründet. Die Liṅga-vedī, der Altar des Liṅga, ist Mahādevī selbst; und der Liṅga ist Maheśvara in sichtbarer, unmittelbarer Gegenwart.

Word by Word

• tadāprabhṛti: from that time onward

• lokeṣu: in the worlds

• liṅga-arcā: worship/adoration of the Liṅga

• su-pratiṣṭhitā: well-established, firmly instituted

• liṅga-vedī: the altar/base of the Liṅga

• mahādevī: the Great Goddess (Śakti)

• liṅgam: the Liṅga

• sākṣāt: directly, in manifest presence

• maheśvaraḥ: Lord Maheśvara (Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadevi (Shakti/Parvati)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It declares liṅgārcā as a universally established sādhana and affirms that worship offered to the Liṅga reaches Śiva directly, making Liṅga-pūjā a primary, authoritative mode of devotion in the Linga Purana.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is identified as “sākṣāt Maheśvara” in the Liṅga—Pati made immediately accessible to the paśu (individual soul) through a consecrated form, without reducing His transcendence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Liṅga-arcana with proper pratishthā is highlighted: honoring the Liṅga together with its vedī, understanding the vedī as Śakti and the Liṅga as Śiva—an essential Shaiva ritual framework that supports Pāśupata-oriented devotion and purification.