Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 28

विनायकोत्पत्तिः / ताण्डव-प्रसङ्गः (दारुक-वधः, काली-उत्पत्तिः, क्षेत्रपालोत्पत्तिः)

Devanagari script

एवं संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तं ताण्डवं शूलिनः प्रभोः योगानन्देन च विभोस् ताण्डवं चेति चापरे

Transliteration

evaṃ saṃkṣepataḥ proktaṃ tāṇḍavaṃ śūlinaḥ prabhoḥ yogānandena ca vibhos tāṇḍavaṃ ceti cāpare

Translation

Thus, in brief, the Tāṇḍava of the Lord who bears the trident has been declared. Some, however, also call this very dance of the all-pervading Lord the “Tāṇḍava of Yogic Bliss (Yogānanda).”

Word by Word

• evam: thus

• saṃkṣepataḥ: briefly, in summary

• proktam: has been stated, declared

• tāṇḍavam: the Tāṇḍava (Shiva’s cosmic dance)

• śūlinaḥ: of the trident-bearer (Shiva)

• prabhoḥ: of the Lord, Master

• yogānandena: by/with yogic bliss, through the joy of Yoga

• ca: and

• vibhoḥ: of the all-pervading, mighty One

• tāṇḍavam: (as) Tāṇḍava

• ceti: thus/so (it is said) as well

• ca: and

• apare: others, some authorities

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva’s Tāṇḍava as a named, contemplatable manifestation of the Lord (Pati), helping the devotee connect outer worship of the Linga with inner meditation on Shiva’s dynamic, world-sustaining power.

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

Shiva is presented as Śūlin (sovereign Lord) and Vibhu (all-pervading), whose dance is not merely movement but the expression of yogic ānanda—transcendent bliss that underlies creation, maintenance, and dissolution.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights yogic contemplation of Shiva’s blissful Tāṇḍava—an inward Pāśupata-oriented approach where the pashu (soul) loosens pāśa (bondage) by meditating on the Lord’s all-pervading, bliss-nature.