Shloka 1

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे उमामहेश्वरव्रतं नाम चतुरशीतितमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच सर्वव्रतेषु सम्पूज्य देवदेवमुमापतिम् जपेत्पञ्चाक्षरीं विद्यां विधिनैव द्विजोत्तमाः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge umāmaheśvaravrataṃ nāma caturaśītitamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca sarvavrateṣu sampūjya devadevamumāpatim japetpañcākṣarīṃ vidyāṃ vidhinaiva dvijottamāḥ

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrva-bhāga, begins the eighty-fifth chapter called “The Vow of Umā and Maheśvara.” Sūta said: “In all sacred observances, having duly and completely worshipped the God of gods—Umā’s Lord—let the best of the twice-born, following the prescribed rite, recite in japa the five-syllabled mantra, the Pañcākṣarī vidyā.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

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

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

• umā-maheśvara-vratam: the vow/observance of Umā and Maheśvara

• nāma: named

• caturaśītitamaḥ: eighty-fifth

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• sarva-vrateṣu: in all vows/observances

• sampūjya: having worshipped fully/properly

• deva-devam: the God of gods

• umā-patim: the Lord (husband) of Umā

• japet: should recite

• pañcākṣarīm: the five-syllabled

• vidyām: mantra/gnosis-formula

• vidhinā eva: only according to rule/rite

• dvija-uttamāḥ: the best among the twice-born.

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati (Uma)

FAQs

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

It establishes that every vrata becomes complete when centered on proper worship of Mahādeva (Umā’s Lord) and supported by disciplined mantra-japa—especially the pañcākṣarī—linking outer pūjā to inner realization of the Liṅga-tattva.

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

Śiva is presented as Deva-deva (God of gods) and as Umā-pati, indicating Pati—the supreme Lord—inseparable from Śakti; devotion to this unified reality is the purifying means for the pashu (bound soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights vidhi-yukta pūjā followed by pañcākṣarī-vidyā japa, a core Shaiva practice that functions as both ritual observance and mantra-yoga (disciplining the mind toward Pati).