Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

मदनदाहः — पार्वतीतपः, स्वयंवरलीला, देवस्तम्भनं, दिव्यचक्षुर्दानम्

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे मदनदाहो नामैकाधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच तपसा च महादेव्याः पार्वत्या वृषभध्वज प्रीतिश् च भगवाञ्छर्वो वचनाद्ब्रह्मणस्तदा

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge madanadāho nāmaikādhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca tapasā ca mahādevyāḥ pārvatyā vṛṣabhadhvaja prītiś ca bhagavāñcharvo vacanādbrahmaṇastadā

Translation

Thus, in the revered Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrvabhāga, begins the one-hundred-and-second chapter called “The Burning of Madana (Kāma).” Sūta said: “O Vṛṣabhadhvaja (Bannered by the Bull), by the austerity of Mahādevī Pārvatī, and then by Brahmā’s entreaty, the Blessed Lord Śarva (Śiva) became pleased.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the auspicious Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrvabhāge: in the first section (Pūrvabhāga)

• madanadāhaḥ: the burning of Madana/Kāma

• nāma: named

• eka-adhika-śatatamaḥ: one-hundred-and-second

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta spoke

• tapasā: by austerity/penance

• ca: and

• mahādevyāḥ: of Mahādevī

• pārvatyāḥ: of Pārvatī

• vṛṣabhadhvaja: O Śiva whose banner is the bull

• prītiḥ: pleasure, satisfaction, grace

• ca: and

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord

• śarvaḥ: Śiva (the auspicious destroyer of bondage)

• vacanāt: due to the words/request

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā

• tadā: then/at that time

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames the chapter where Śiva’s anugraha (grace) arises from Śakti’s tapas and Brahmā’s prayer—highlighting that devotion, austerity, and supplication draw the Pati (Lord) toward the welfare of beings, a key principle behind Liṅga-upāsanā.

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

Śiva is shown as Śarva—the sovereign Pati who is not compelled by worldly desire, but who freely becomes pleased (prīti) through tapas and dharmic request, indicating compassionate transcendence central to Shaiva Siddhanta.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity) is foregrounded as a Pāśupata-aligned discipline: through inner restraint and devotion, the paśu (soul) approaches the Lord’s grace that loosens pāśa (bondage).