Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

आभ्यन्तरध्यान-तत्त्वगणना-चतुर्व्यूहयोगः

Adhyaya 28

Devanagari script

हिरण्यगर्भं रुद्रो ऽसौ जनयामास शङ्करः विश्वाधिकश् च विश्वात्मा विश्वरूप इति स्मृतः

Transliteration

hiraṇyagarbhaṃ rudro 'sau janayāmāsa śaṅkaraḥ viśvādhikaś ca viśvātmā viśvarūpa iti smṛtaḥ

Translation

That Rudra—Śaṅkara—brought forth Hiraṇyagarbha, the golden cosmic germ. He is remembered as the One who transcends the universe, as the very Soul within the universe, and as the One whose form is the entire universe.

Word by Word

• हिरण्यगर्भम् (hiraṇyagarbham): Hiraṇyagarbha, the golden cosmic embryo/creator-principle

• रुद्रः (rudraḥ): Rudra

• असौ (asau): that very (Lord)

• जनयामास (janayāmāsa): generated, caused to be born, brought forth

• शङ्करः (śaṅkaraḥ): Śaṅkara, the auspicious Lord (Śiva as Pati)

• विश्वाधिकः (viśvādhikaḥ): beyond/superior to the universe

• च (ca): and

• विश्वात्मा (viśvātmā): the inner Self of the universe

• विश्वरूपः (viśvarūpaḥ): whose form is the cosmos

• इति (iti): thus

• स्मृतः (smṛtaḥ): is remembered/declared in tradition

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana account of creation to the sages)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shankara
• Hiranyagarbha

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva (as Rudra-Śaṅkara) as the source of cosmic manifestation itself—Hiraṇyagarbha—supporting Linga worship as adoration of the transcendent Pati who also pervades and appears as the whole universe.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented in a threefold way: beyond the cosmos (viśvādhika), immanent as its inner Self (viśvātmā), and manifest as its total form (viśvarūpa)—the Lord who remains free while enabling creation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi is stated; the takeaway is a contemplative Pāśupata-oriented bhāvanā: meditate on Śiva as both transcendent Pati and the indwelling Self, loosening paśu’s pasha (bondage) through right knowledge and devotion.