Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 139

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

Devanagari script

रुलेस् फ़ोर् फ़ोओद् अन्द् अ मेअल् शूद्रान्नं यातयामान्नं नैवेद्यं श्राद्धमेव च गणान्नं समुदायान्नं राजान्नं च विवर्जयेत्

Transliteration

rules for food and a meal śūdrānnaṃ yātayāmānnaṃ naivedyaṃ śrāddhameva ca gaṇānnaṃ samudāyānnaṃ rājānnaṃ ca vivarjayet

Translation

Regarding rules for food and one’s meal, one should avoid: food obtained from a Śūdra (i.e., food not ritually fit for one’s observance), stale or kept-over food, food that is an offering (naivedya), food connected with śrāddha rites, food meant for a group-feast, food from a communal distribution, and food from the king’s table. Such restraint preserves purity for Śiva-worship and steadies the aspirant’s discipline on the path where the paśu is freed from pāśa by the grace of Pati.

Word by Word

• शूद्रान्नम् (śūdrānnam): food associated with a Śūdra/food deemed ritually unsuitable for the vrata

• यातयामान्नम् (yātayāmānnam): stale, kept-over, time-expired food

• नैवेद्यम् (naivedyam): consecrated offering presented to a deity

• श्राद्धम् (śrāddham): rites/food connected with ancestral offerings

• एव च (eva ca): and also

• गणान्नम् (gaṇānnam): food for a group/collective feast

• समुदायान्नम् (samudāyānnam): food from communal distribution/assembly

• राजान्नम् (rājānnam): food from the king/royal household

• विवर्जयेत् (vivarjayet): should avoid, should refrain from.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-dharma and vrata discipline to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It lays down āhāra-niyama (dietary restraints) to maintain ritual purity and inner steadiness, supporting effective Linga-puja and vrata observance.

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

Implicitly, Shiva is Pati—the liberating Lord—whose worship requires disciplined purity so that the Pashu (individual soul) can loosen Pāśa (bondage) through regulated conduct.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Vrata-based Shiva-puja supported by food-discipline (āhāra-śuddhi), a practical limb that stabilizes Pashupata-style sādhanā and preserves the sanctity of worship.