Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

लिङ्गार्चनविधिक्रमः—शुद्धि, न्यास, आसनकल्पना, अभिषेक, स्तोत्र-प्रदक्षिणा

Adhyaya 27

Devanagari script

सर्वज्ञत्वं तथैशान्यं कर्णिका सोम उच्यते सोमस्याधस् तथा सूर्यस् तस्याधः पावकः स्वयम्

Transliteration

sarvajñatvaṃ tathaiśānyaṃ karṇikā soma ucyate somasyādhas tathā sūryas tasyādhaḥ pāvakaḥ svayam

Translation

Omniscience and the Iśāna (northeast, sovereign) principle are said to abide in the karṇikā, the central core; there Soma is declared to preside. Below Soma is Sūrya, and below him indeed is Pāvaka (Agni) himself.

Word by Word

• सर्वज्ञत्वम्: omniscience (all-knowing nature of Pati, Śiva)

• तथा: and likewise

• ऐशान्यम्: belonging to Iśāna / the northeast / the lordly Śaiva principle

• कर्णिका: the lotus-pericarp (central core of the maṇḍala)

• सोमः: Soma (Moon-deity, nectar principle)

• उच्यते: is said / is declared

• सोमस्य: of Soma

• अधस्: below

• तथा: likewise

• सूर्यः: Sūrya (Sun-deity)

• तस्य: of him / below him

• अधः: beneath

• पावकः: Pāvaka (Agni, fire)

• स्वयम्: himself / directly

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga-maṇḍala symbolism within the Purāṇic discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Soma
• Surya
• Agni

FAQs

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

It assigns specific cosmic deities (Soma, Sūrya, Agni) to vertical positions in the Linga-lotus maṇḍala, guiding dhyāna and nyāsa so the worshipper aligns the ritual form with Śiva’s all-knowing Iśāna principle.

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

By locating sarvajñatva (omniscience) and the Iśāna-bhāva in the central karṇikā, it points to Śiva as Pati—the sovereign consciousness that orders and transcends the lower functional powers represented by Soma, Sūrya, and Agni.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Maṇḍala-dhyāna in Linga-pūjā: contemplating the karṇikā as Iśāna-sarvajña Śiva while placing Soma above, with Sūrya and Agni below, as an inner visualization to purify the pashu (soul) and loosen pāśa (bondage).