Shloka 1

Adhyaya 79 — Bhakti-Mahima and Linga-Archana-Vidhi

Condensed Ritual Sequence

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे भक्तिमहिमवर्णनं नामाष्टसप्ततितमो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः कथं पूज्यो महादेवो मर्त्यैर्मन्दैर्महामते कल्पायुषैर् अल्पवीर्यैर् अल्पसत्त्वैः प्रजापतिः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge bhaktimahimavarṇanaṃ nāmāṣṭasaptatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kathaṃ pūjyo mahādevo martyairmandairmahāmate kalpāyuṣair alpavīryair alpasattvaiḥ prajāpatiḥ

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga-Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrvabhāga, begins the seventy-ninth chapter called “The Glorification of the Greatness of Bhakti.” The sages said: “O great-minded one, how is Mahādeva—Prajāpati, Lord of beings—to be worshipped by mortal men who are dull, short-lived in this age, of little strength, and of limited inner capacity?”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the holy Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the earlier section (Pūrvabhāga)

• bhakti-mahimā-varṇanam: description of the greatness of devotion

• nāma: named

• aṣṭa-saptatitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the seventy-ninth chapter

• ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ: the sages said

• katham: how

• pūjyaḥ: to be worshipped / worthy of worship

• mahādevaḥ: Mahādeva (Śiva)

• martyaiḥ: by mortals

• mandaiḥ: dull / slow (in understanding and effort)

• mahāmate: O great-minded one (address)

• kalpa-āyuṣaiḥ: having an age (lifespan) determined by the (degenerate) time-cycle

• alpa-vīryaiḥ: of little vigor / power

• alpa-sattvaiḥ: of limited sattva / limited spiritual stamina

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati, lord of progeny / lord of creatures

Speaker

Ṛṣis (Sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, addressing Sūta)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahadeva)
• Prajapati

FAQs

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

It frames the practical problem of Linga-pūjā for limited human beings (pashus) and sets up the chapter’s answer: devotion (bhakti) is the accessible, effective means to approach Pati (Mahādeva) even when strength, lifespan, and capacity are small.

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

Śiva is indicated as Mahādeva and Prajāpati—the sovereign Lord of beings (Pati), transcending the limitations of mortals while remaining the rightful object of worship who can be approached through devotion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse itself introduces the need for a workable sādhana; by context (Bhakti-mahimā), it points toward bhakti-centered Śiva-pūjā (including Linga worship) as the key discipline for bound souls (pashus) in an age of diminished capacity.