Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 149

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

अनिर्विण्णो गुणग्राही कलङ्काङ्कः कलङ्कहा स्वभावरुद्रो मध्यस्थः शत्रुघ्नो मध्यनाशकः

Transliteration

anirviṇṇo guṇagrāhī kalaṅkāṅkaḥ kalaṅkahā svabhāvarudro madhyasthaḥ śatrughno madhyanāśakaḥ

Translation

Er ist niemals niedergeschlagen; er erfasst die Wahrheit der Guṇas. Er trägt das Zeichen, das alles heiligt, und doch ist er der Vernichter aller Befleckung. Von Natur ist er Rudra; in der Mitte verweilend als unparteiischer Zeuge, erschlägt er die feindlichen Mächte und löst das „Dazwischen“ auf—den Zwischen-Schleier, der die Bindung aufrechterhält.

Word by Word

• अनिर्विण्णः: never despondent, never weary

• गुणग्राही: perceiver/receiver of the guṇas (their true nature), one who comprehends qualities

• कलङ्काङ्कः: one bearing a mark/emblem, the marked One (whose sign becomes auspicious)

• कलङ्कहा: remover/destroyer of stain, sin, reproach

• स्वभावरुद्रः: Rudra by intrinsic nature, the innate fierce-transformative Lord

• मध्यस्थः: standing in the middle, impartial, the inner witness and mediator

• शत्रुघ्नः: slayer of enemies (inner and outer), destroyer of hostile powers

• मध्यनाशकः: destroyer of the middle/interval, remover of the intervening obstruction (veil) that maintains saṃsāric continuity

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s names within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva as the remover of kalanka (taint) and the impartial inner witness; in Linga-puja this supports worship for purification (mala-kṣaya) and for the grace of Pati that loosens pāśa (bondage) upon the pashu (soul).

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

Shiva is shown as intrinsically Rudra (svabhāvarudra), untouched by dejection, yet actively dissolving impurity and hostile forces; as madhyastha He remains the steady witness while granting transformative destruction that leads the soul toward liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse aligns with Pashupata-oriented inner discipline: maintaining witness-consciousness (madhyastha-bhāva) while invoking Rudra to destroy inner ‘enemies’ (kāma, krodha, etc.) and the intervening veil (madhya) that sustains bondage.