Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

लक्ष्म्या देव्या ह्यभूद्देव इच्छया परमेष्ठिनः दक्षिणाङ्गभवो ब्रह्मा सरस्वत्या जगद्गुरुः

Transliteration

lakṣmyā devyā hyabhūddeva icchayā parameṣṭhinaḥ dakṣiṇāṅgabhavo brahmā sarasvatyā jagadguruḥ

Translation

By the will-power (icchā-śakti) of the Supreme Lord, the Goddess Lakṣmī became the divine potency; and from the right side of the Grand-Sire (Parameṣṭhin) arose Brahmā, who through Sarasvatī became the world-teacher. Thus creation proceeds under Śiva’s sovereignty as Pati, through Śakti.

Word by Word

• लक्ष्म्या (lakṣmyā): by Lakṣmī

• देव्या (devyā): by the Goddess / divine power

• हि (hi): indeed

• अभूत् (abhūt): became / came to be

• देव (deva): O Deva / the divine

• इच्छया (icchayā): by will (icchā-śakti)

• परमेष्ठिनः (parameṣṭhinaḥ): of the Supreme / the Grand-Sire

• दक्षिण-अङ्ग-भवः (dakṣiṇāṅga-bhavaḥ): born from the right side

• ब्रह्मा (brahmā): Brahmā

• सरस्वत्या (sarasvatyā): by Sarasvatī

• जगद्-गुरुः (jagad-guruḥ): teacher of the world

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the creation sequence to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Lakshmi
• Sarasvati
• Brahma
• Parameshthin

FAQs

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

It grounds worship in the principle that all manifestation proceeds from the Lord’s icchā-śakti through Devī; therefore Linga-pūjā honors Pati (Śiva) together with Śakti as the source of sṛṣṭi and order.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as sovereign will (icchā) that empowers the divine energies (Lakṣmī, Sarasvatī) and directs the cosmic functions—Brahmā’s creative role is secondary, arising within that higher lordship of Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to Śiva-Śakti-bhāva in practice: in pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented contemplation, one meditates on Pati as the inner governor whose śakti manifests prosperity (Lakṣmī) and wisdom/mantra (Sarasvatī).