Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

Vighneshvara-Prashna and Deva-Krita Shiva-Stava

Adhyaya 104

Devanagari script

तीर्थतत्त्वाय साराय तस्मादपि पराय ते ऋग्यजुःसामवेदाय ओंकाराय नमो नमः

Transliteration

tīrthatattvāya sārāya tasmādapi parāya te ṛgyajuḥsāmavedāya oṃkārāya namo namaḥ

Translation

Salutations again and again to You—who are the very principle of all tīrthas (tīrtha-tattva), the inner essence (sāra), and the Supreme beyond even that; salutations to You who are the Ṛg, Yajus, and Sāma Vedas, and who are the praṇava, Oṃkāra.

Word by Word

• तीर्थतत्त्वाय: to the principle/reality of tīrthas (sacred crossings)

• साराय: to the essence, the quintessence

• तस्मादपि: even beyond that

• पराय: to the Supreme, the Transcendent

• ते: to You

• ऋग्यजुःसामवेदाय: to (the form of) the Ṛg-, Yajur-, and Sāma-Vedas

• ओंकाराय: to Oṁkāra (Praṇava)

• नमो नमः: salutations, salutations again and again

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shiva-stuti within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Omkara
• Rig Veda
• Yajur Veda
• Sama Veda

FAQs

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

It establishes that the true tīrtha is Shiva Himself (Pati): outer pilgrimage and Linga-puja become spiritually complete when the devotee recognizes Mahadeva as the inner essence (sāra) behind all sacred places and rites.

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

Shiva is praised as both immanent and transcendent—present as the Vedas and Oṁkāra (the manifest sound-body of revelation), yet also ‘parā,’ beyond even the subtlest essence, indicating the supreme Pati who surpasses all limited categories.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Praṇava-centered upāsanā: contemplating Oṁkāra as Shiva and integrating Vedic recitation with inner realization—moving from external karma (ritual) toward Pāśupata-aligned insight where the pashu (soul) turns inward to Pati beyond pāśa (bondage).