Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 141

ध्यानयोगेन रुद्रदर्शनम् — रुद्रावतार-परिवर्तक्रमः, लकुली (कायावतार), पाशुपतयोगः, लिङ्गार्चन-निष्ठा

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच निशम्यैवं महातेजा महादेवेन कीर्तितम् रुद्रावतारं भगवान् प्रणिपत्य महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca niśamyaivaṃ mahātejā mahādevena kīrtitam rudrāvatāraṃ bhagavān praṇipatya maheśvaram

Translation

Sūta said: Having thus heard the account of Rudra’s descent, proclaimed by Mahādeva, that radiant one bowed in reverence and offered obeisance to Maheśvara—the Supreme Pati who frees the bound paśus.

Word by Word

• सूत उवाच: Sūta said

• निशम्य: having heard

• एवम्: thus

• महातेजाः: the greatly radiant one

• महादेवेन: by Mahādeva (Shiva)

• कीर्तितम्: proclaimed, narrated

• रुद्रावतारम्: the incarnation/descent of Rudra

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord / venerable one

• प्रणिपत्य: bowing down, prostrating

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara, the Great Lord

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadeva
• Rudra
• Maheshvara

FAQs

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

It models the core Linga-Purana posture of devotion: after hearing Shiva’s glory (kīrtana), the proper response is praṇipāta—humble surrender to Maheśvara, the Pati worshipped through the Linga.

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

Shiva appears as Mahādeva/Maheśvara—the supreme Lord (Pati) whose narrated manifestations (Rudrāvatāra) are not merely historical events but revelations of the Lord’s saving power over bound souls (paśus).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Śravaṇa (devotional listening) followed by praṇipāta (prostration/surrender), a foundational bhakti-lakṣaṇa that supports Shaiva sādhanā and aligns with the Pāśupata emphasis on submission to the Lord’s grace.