Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 153
Adhyaya 71: पुरत्रयवृत्तान्तः—ब्रह्मवरदानम्, मयकृतत्रिपुर-निर्माणम्, विष्णुमाया-धर्मविघ्नः, शिवस्तुति, त्रिपुरदाहोपक्रमः
दिवः पृष्ठे यथा चन्द्रो नक्षत्रैरिव सुव्रताः तं दृष्ट्वा नन्दिनं देवाः सेन्द्रोपेन्द्रास् तथाविधम्
divaḥ pṛṣṭhe yathā candro nakṣatrairiva suvratāḥ taṃ dṛṣṭvā nandinaṃ devāḥ sendropendrās tathāvidham
As the moon shines upon the vault of heaven, encircled by the stars, so did Nandin appear. Beholding him in that very form, the Devas—together with Indra and Upendra—gazed upon the splendour born of steadfast vows and devotion to Pati (Śiva).
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
FAQs
The verse emphasizes tejas born of suvrata (disciplined vows). In Linga worship, such vrata and purity make the devotee receptive to Śiva’s presence—seen here as Nandin’s moon-like radiance around which the Devas gather.
By presenting Nandin’s splendour as celestial and irresistibly drawing the Devas, the verse points to Śiva-tattva as Pati—self-luminous consciousness whose grace is mirrored in His attendants and accessible through dharma and devotion.
Suvrata—observance of holy vows and disciplined conduct—implicitly supports Pāśupata-oriented purification, loosening pāśa (bondage) so the pashu (individual soul) can align with Pati (Śiva).