Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

Adhyaya 63: Daksha’s Progeny, Kashyapa’s Offspring, and the Rishi-Vamshas that Sustain the Worlds

Devanagari script

भानोस्तु भानवः प्रोक्ता मुहूर्ताया मुहूर्तकाः लम्बाया घोषनामानो नागवीथिस्तु यामिजः

Transliteration

bhānostu bhānavaḥ proktā muhūrtāyā muhūrtakāḥ lambāyā ghoṣanāmāno nāgavīthistu yāmijaḥ

Translation

For Bhānu, the attendants are declared to be the Bhānavas; for Muhūrtā, the Muhūrtakas. For Lambā, those named Ghoṣa; and for Nāgavīthī, the Yāmijas—deities born of, and presiding over, the divisions of time.

Word by Word

• bhānoḥ: of Bhānu (the Sun)

• tu: indeed/and

• bhānavaḥ: the Bhānavas (solar attendants)

• proktāḥ: are declared

• muhūrtāyāḥ: of Muhūrtā (personified muhurta/time-unit)

• muhūrtakāḥ: the Muhūrtakas (muhurta-deities/attendants)

• lambāyāḥ: of Lambā (a named time-deity)

• ghoṣa-nāmānaḥ: those bearing the name Ghoṣa

• nāga-vīthiḥ: Nāgavīthī (a named time-deity/path)

• tu: and

• yāmijaḥ: Yāmijas (born of yāma

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Bhanu
• Muhurta (deity)
• Lamba
• Ghosha
• Nagavithi
• Yamija

FAQs

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

It identifies the presiding attendants of specific time-divisions (muhūrta, yāma), implying that Shiva-puja and Linga installation are to be aligned with sanctified time (kāla), which operates under Pati (Shiva) as cosmic governor.

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

Though Shiva is not named directly, the verse reflects a Shaiva cosmology where ordered time and its deities function as instruments within the Lord’s governance—kāla becomes a structured power that binds and releases the paśu under Pati’s supreme ordinance.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Muhurta-awareness: selecting proper ritual time for japa, vrata, and Linga-puja; and, in a yogic sense, training the paśu to transcend pasha by regulating life through disciplined time (kāla-niyama) consistent with Pashupata observance.