Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

सूर्यरश्मिस्वरूपकथनम्

Surya-Rashmi Svarupa Kathana

Devanagari script

मासाः संवत्सरश्चैव ऋतवो ऽथ युगानि च तदादित्यादृते ह्येषा कालसंख्या न विद्यते

Transliteration

māsāḥ saṃvatsaraścaiva ṛtavo 'tha yugāni ca tadādityādṛte hyeṣā kālasaṃkhyā na vidyate

Translation

Months, the year, the seasons, and even the yugas—without that Āditya (the Sun), this reckoning of Time does not exist.

Word by Word

• मासाः (māsāḥ): months

• संवत्सरः (saṃvatsaraḥ): year

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• ऋतवः (ṛtavaḥ): seasons

• अथ (atha): also/then

• युगानि (yugāni): yugas/ages

• तत्-आदित्य (tad-āditya): that Āditya, the Sun

• अदृते (ādṛte): without/excepting

• हि (hi): indeed

• एषा (eṣā): this

• काल-संख्या (kāla-saṃkhyā): enumeration/measure of time

• न (na): not

• विद्यते (vidyate): exists/is found.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching on cosmic time to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Aditya (Surya)
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It grounds Shiva-puja in cosmic order: ritual time (tithi, māsa, saṃvatsara) is practically known through the Sun, so worship follows a measurable rhythm while honoring Shiva as the Lord who is ultimately beyond time.

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

By implying that time-counting depends on Āditya, it points to a higher principle: Shiva as Pati is not limited by kāla-saṃkhyā, even though the manifest cosmos—including solar time—operates under his governance.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It supports time-based observances—daily solar-aligned worship, vrata timing, and festival calculations—while Pashupata-oriented practice uses disciplined observance of time to finally loosen pasha (bondage) and realize the timeless Lord.