Shloka 1

Adhyaya 75: Nishkala–Sakala Shiva, Twofold Linga, and the Supremacy of Dhyana-Yajna

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे शिवलिङ्गभेदसंस्थापनादिवर्णनं नाम चतुःसप्ततितमो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः निष्कलो निर्मलो नित्यः सकलत्वं कथं गतः वक्तुमर्हसि चास्माकं यथा पूर्वं यथा श्रुतम्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge śivaliṅgabhedasaṃsthāpanādivarṇanaṃ nāma catuḥsaptatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ niṣkalo nirmalo nityaḥ sakalatvaṃ kathaṃ gataḥ vaktumarhasi cāsmākaṃ yathā pūrvaṃ yathā śrutam

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga-Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrva-bhāga, begins the seventy-fifth chapter, called “The description of the varieties of the Śiva-Liṅga and the rules of their installation.” The sages said: “He who is partless, stainless, and eternal—how did that very Lord attain a ‘manifest-with-parts’ state? Please explain this to us, just as it was formerly stated and as we have heard in tradition.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrīliṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the venerable Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• śiva-liṅga-bheda: the distinctions/types of the Śiva-Liṅga

• saṃsthāpana-ādi: installation and related rites

• varṇanam: description

• nāma: named

• catuḥsaptatitamaḥ: seventy-fifth

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter

• ṛṣayaḥ: the sages

• ūcuḥ: said

• niṣkalaḥ: without parts/attributes (transcendent)

• nirmalaḥ: immaculate/pure

• nityaḥ: eternal

• sakalatvam: the state of being with parts/manifest (immanent)

• katham: how

• gataḥ: attained/entered

• vaktum: to speak/explain

• arhasi: you ought/are able (please do)

• ca: and

• asmākam: to us

• yathā: as

• pūrvam: formerly

• yathā śrutam: as (it is) heard in scripture/tradition

Speaker

Ṛṣis (Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya), within Sūta’s narration framework

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sages (Ṛṣis)

FAQs

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

It frames the central theological question behind Liṅga-pūjā: how the transcendent (niṣkala) Śiva becomes approachable through a manifest, worshipable form (sakala), which underlies the legitimacy of Liṅga installation and ritual.

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

Śiva is presented as niṣkala (partless, beyond attributes), nirmala (untouched by mala/bondage), and nitya (eternal), yet capable of assuming sakalatva—an immanent mode for the sake of revelation, grace, and the liberation of paśus (bound souls).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse introduces the doctrinal basis for Liṅga-pratiṣṭhā (installation) and Liṅga-pūjā; yogically, it points to contemplating Śiva in both modes—niṣkala (transcendent meditation) and sakala (devotional worship with form).