Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 19

Bhūtavana–Kailāsa–Mandākinī–Rudrapurī: Śiva’s Jeweled Abodes and Perpetual Worship

Devanagari script

उपेन्द्रप्रमुखैश्चान्यैः पूजितस्तत्र शंकरः विभक्तचारुशिखरं यत्र तच्छङ्खवर्चसम्

Transliteration

upendrapramukhaiścānyaiḥ pūjitastatra śaṃkaraḥ vibhaktacāruśikharaṃ yatra tacchaṅkhavarcasam

Translation

There, Śaṅkara was worshipped by Upendra and the other gods. In that holy place shines the radiant Śaṅkha-varcas, marked by beautifully distinct peaks; there the Devas honor Pati, the Lord who loosens the pāśa, the bonds of the bound paśu-souls.

Word by Word

• उपेन्द्र (Upendra/Vishnu): the younger Indra, i.e., Viṣṇu

• प्रमुखैः (pramukhaiḥ): led by, headed by

• च (ca): and

• अन्यैः (anyaiḥ): by others (other Devas)

• पूजितः (pūjitaḥ): worshipped, honored

• तत्र (tatra): there

• शंकरः (śaṅkaraḥ): Śiva, the beneficent one

• विभक्त (vibhakta): separated, distinct

• चारु (cāru): beautiful, pleasing

• शिखरम् (śikharam): peak, summit

• यत्र (yatra): where

• तत् (tat): that

• शङ्खवर्चसम् (śaṅkha-varcasam): “conch-radiant” (a luminous sacred presence/place-name), endowed with conch-like brilliance

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Upendra (Vishnu)
• Devas

FAQs

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

It presents Deva-led worship (Upendra and others) as a model for Linga-pūjā: even the gods approach Śaṅkara as Pati, affirming that ritual honor at a śiva-tīrtha is a direct means to grace and purification.

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

Śaṅkara is shown as the supreme Pati—worthy of worship by all Devas—whose beneficence is linked with liberating bound beings by dissolving pāśa (bondage), consistent with a Shaiva Siddhānta framing of Lordship and grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The highlighted practice is Deva-style pūjā at a sacred Śaiva locus (tīrtha/kshetra), implying disciplined worship as a Pāśupata-oriented approach: reverence, sanctified place, and devotion directed to Śaṅkara for inner release.