Shloka 1

अलिङ्ग-लिङ्ग-निरूपणं तथा प्राकृत-सृष्टिवर्णनम्

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच अलिङ्गो लिङ्गमूलं तु अव्यक्तं लिङ्गमुच्यते अलिङ्गः शिव इत्युक्तो लिङ्गं शैवमिति स्मृतम्

Transliteration

sūta uvāca aliṅgo liṅgamūlaṃ tu avyaktaṃ liṅgamucyate aliṅgaḥ śiva ityukto liṅgaṃ śaivamiti smṛtam

Translation

Sūta said: That which is without any mark (aliṅga) is the very root of the Liṅga; the unmanifest (avyakta) is called the Liṅga. Śiva is declared to be “without mark” (aliṅga), and the Liṅga is remembered as the Śaiva emblem—His sacred sign for contemplation and worship.

Word by Word

• सूत (sūta): Sūta (the narrator)

• उवाच (uvāca): said

• अलिङ्गः (aliṅgaḥ): without sign/mark, attributeless

• लिङ्ग-मूलम् (liṅga-mūlam): the root/source of the Linga

• तु (tu): indeed

• अव्यक्तम् (avyaktam): unmanifest, subtle, beyond perception

• लिङ्गम् (liṅgam): sign, emblem

• उच्यते (ucyate): is called

• शिवः (śivaḥ): Lord Shiva, Pati (the Lord)

• इति (iti): thus

• उक्तः (uktaḥ): is declared

• शैवम् (śaivam): pertaining to Shiva/Shaiva

• स्मृतम् (smṛtam): is remembered/traditionally held

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga worship in metaphysics: the Linga points to the unmanifest root (avyakta) of reality—Shiva as Pati—making the emblem a support for devotion and inner realization rather than mere external symbolism.

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

Shiva is described as aliṅga—beyond marks, attributes, and limiting definitions—yet compassionately represented through the Shaiva Linga so bound souls (paśu) can approach the transcendent Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It implies Linga-upāsanā and dhyāna: using the Linga as a meditative support to contemplate the avyakta Shiva, aligning with Pāśupata-oriented practice of turning the mind from the manifest to the attributeless Lord.