Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38

रुद्र-विष्णोः ऐकत्व-उपदेशः तथा धर्म-आज्ञा

Instruction on Rudra–Viṣṇu Unity and Divine Injunctions

Devanagari script

लिंगवेदिर्महादेवी लिंगं साक्षान्महेश्वरः । लयनाल्लिंगमित्युक्तं तत्रैव निखिलं जगत्

Transliteration

liṃgavedirmahādevī liṃgaṃ sākṣānmaheśvaraḥ | layanālliṃgamityuktaṃ tatraiva nikhilaṃ jagat

Translation

Der Liṅga-Altar ist Mahādevī (Śakti), und der Liṅga selbst ist Maheśvara in eigener Person. Er heißt „Liṅga“, weil er der Ort der Auflösung (laya) ist; ja, das ganze Universum ist in eben dieser Wirklichkeit enthalten und geht darin auf.

Word by Word

• लिङ्ग-वेदिः: the pedestal of the liṅga
• लिङ्ग-वेदिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लिङ्गस्य वेदिः)

• महादेवी: (is) the Great Goddess
• महादेवी: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेवी (प्रातिपदिक: महा + देवी)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती देवी)

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly, manifestly
• साक्षात्: विशेषण (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/निश्चयवाचक (indeclinable: 'directly, in person')

• महेश्वरः: Mahēśvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरः: विधेय (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति; एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (महत् + ईश्वर)

• लय-नात्: from/because of dissolution
• लय-नात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लय (प्रातिपदिक) + नात् (तसिल्/पञ्चमी-अर्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative); एकवचन; हेत्वर्थ (cause: 'because of dissolution')

• लिङ्गम्: (it is) liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of 'said/called')
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• उक्तम्: is said, is called
• उक्तम्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Predication: 'is said')
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (it is said)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (locative adverb)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• निखिलम्: entire, all
• निखिलम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषण

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति; एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga-sthala episode; the verse gives a universal Śaiva siddhānta of the Liṅga: the Liṅga (Śiva) and its pīṭha/vedī (Śakti) as the locus where the cosmos is resolved (laya).

Significance: Establishes the Liṅga as the supreme, all-containing Reality; darśana and worship are framed as contact with the cosmic ground into which all returns.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Mahādevī

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: laya (cosmic resolution) as the defining semantic/theological key of the Liṅga

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheshvara)
• Parvati (Mahadevi)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that the Linga is not a mere symbol but the direct presence of Pati (Śiva), inseparable from Śakti (Mahādevī); in Him the cosmos finally merges (laya), pointing the devotee toward liberation through Śiva-centered contemplation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Linga worship is presented as worship of Saguna Śiva who reveals the Nirguna truth: the pedestal (Śakti) and the Linga (Śiva) together express the complete reality where creation arises and into which it dissolves.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

During Linga pūjā, contemplate the Linga as Maheśvara and the vedi as Śakti, and meditate on laya—letting the mind dissolve into Śiva—while repeating a Śiva-mantra such as the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya").