Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य — काशी-वाराणसी में मोक्ष, लिङ्ग-तीर्थ-मानचित्र, और उपासना-विधि

Devanagari script

यानि चान्यानि पुण्यानि स्थानानि मम भूतले अष्टषष्टिसमाख्यानि रूढान्यन्यानि कृत्स्नशः

Transliteration

yāni cānyāni puṇyāni sthānāni mama bhūtale aṣṭaṣaṣṭisamākhyāni rūḍhānyanyāni kṛtsnaśaḥ

Translation

And whatever other meritorious sacred places exist upon My earth—altogether, in their entirety—there are sixty-eight renowned holy sites, firmly established and well-known by their respective names.

Word by Word

• यानि: whatever

• च: and

• अन्यानि: other

• पुण्यानि: meritorious, holy

• स्थानानि: places, sites

• मम: My

• भूतले: on the earth (on the surface of the world)

• अष्टषष्टि-समाख्यानि: designated as sixty-eight (having the appellation ‘sixty-eight’)

• रूढानि: established, widely current/renowned

• अन्यानि: others (remaining)

• कृत्स्नशः: wholly, completely, in totality

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana, conveying Shaiva tirtha enumeration as part of the Linga-centered discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga worship within a sacred geography: established Shaiva kshetras (holy sites) are presented as recognized, name-bearing centers where devotion to Pati (Shiva) is intensified and merit is multiplied.

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

By calling the earth “My” (mama), the verse implies Shiva’s lordship as Pati—immanent in the world yet sovereign over it—making sacred places manifestations of His sustaining presence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pilgrimage and kshetra-seva (service at holy sites) are implied as supports for purification—loosening pasha (bondage) for the pashu (soul)—and as a practical limb alongside Linga-puja within a Pashupata-oriented Shaiva path.