Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Adhyaya 59 — सूर्याद्यभिषेककथनम्

Surya and Related Abhisheka/ Cosmological Determinations

Devanagari script

अग्निमाविशते रात्रौ तस्माद्दूरात्प्रकाशते उद्यन्तं च पुनः सूर्यम् औष्ण्यम् अग्नेः समाविशेत्

Transliteration

agnimāviśate rātrau tasmāddūrātprakāśate udyantaṃ ca punaḥ sūryam auṣṇyam agneḥ samāviśet

Translation

At night, fire enters and pervades the world; therefore it shines from afar. And again, as the Sun rises, the heat (uṣṇatā) of Agni enters into the Sun. Thus the one tejas appears as fire and as the solar orb by mutual indwelling.

Word by Word

• अग्निम् (agnim): into/with Agni, fire

• आविशते (āviśate): enters, pervades

• रात्रौ (rātrau): at night

• तस्मात् (tasmāt): therefore, from that cause

• दूरात् (dūrāt): from afar

• प्रकाशते (prakāśate): shines, becomes luminous

• उद्यन्तम् (udyantam): rising

• च (ca): and

• पुनः (punaḥ): again

• सूर्यम् (sūryam): the Sun

• औष्ण्यम् (auṣṇyam): heat, warmth

• अग्नेः (agneḥ): of Agni, of fire

• समाविशेत् (samāviśet): enters fully, pervades completely

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating cosmological doctrine within the Linga Purana)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Surya

FAQs

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

It teaches that a single tejas manifests as both fire and the Sun; in Linga-worship this supports seeing one Shiva-tattva (Pati) shining through multiple ritual forms—lamp, fire-offering, and solar contemplation—without contradiction.

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

By presenting mutual indwelling of Agni and Surya, the verse points to a non-fragmented, pervading radiance—an echo of Shiva as the inner Lord (Pati) whose power (tejas) appears as many cosmic functions while remaining one.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It supports Agnihotra/Deepa offerings and Surya-tejas dhyāna as complementary: the practitioner trains the mind to recognize one radiance in different supports, a contemplative aid aligned with Pashupata-style inward perception of the one principle.