Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 159

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

स्थावरेषु विपर्यासस् तिर्यग्योनिषु शक्तितः सिद्धात्मानो मनुष्यास्तु ऋषिदेवेषु कृत्स्नशः

Transliteration

sthāvareṣu viparyāsas tiryagyoniṣu śaktitaḥ siddhātmāno manuṣyāstu ṛṣideveṣu kṛtsnaśaḥ

Translation

Among immobile beings (sthāvara), consciousness is inverted and veiled; among animals (tiryagyoni), it functions only by limited power. But in humans the Self may become perfected, and in sages and gods it manifests in full—thus revealing the graded unveiling of the paśu’s awareness under the Lord, Pati.

Word by Word

• स्थावरेषु: among immobile beings (plants, fixed life-forms)

• विपर्यासः: inversion, delusion, misapprehension

• तिर्यग्योनिषु: in animal wombs/species

• शक्तितः: according to (their) capacity/power

• सिद्धात्मानः: perfected selves, realized souls

• मनुष्याः: humans

• तु: indeed/but

• ऋषिदेवेषु: among sages and gods

• कृत्स्नशः: completely, in fullness

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga worship as a path for the Pashu (soul) to reverse viparyāsa (misapprehension) and progressively unveil consciousness, moving toward siddhatva under Shiva as Pati.

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

By implying a hierarchy of manifested awareness, it points to Shiva-tattva as the supreme Pati whose grace and order allow consciousness to expand from obscuration to fullness in higher beings.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse most directly supports Pashupata-oriented inner discipline—purifying viparyāsa through Shiva-upāsanā (including Linga-pūjā), jñāna, and yoga that mature the human soul toward a siddha-like state.