Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 186

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

Devanagari script

अर्चयामास देवेशं रुद्रं भुवननायकम् अविमुक्ते च तपसा मन्दरस्य महात्मनः

Transliteration

arcayāmāsa deveśaṃ rudraṃ bhuvananāyakam avimukte ca tapasā mandarasya mahātmanaḥ

Translation

In Avimukta (Kāśī), the great-souled Mandara worshipped Rudra—the Lord of the devas, the sovereign of the worlds—by the power of austere tapas, intent on the grace of Pati who loosens the bonds (pāśa) of the paśu.

Word by Word

• अर्चयामास: worshipped

• देवेशम्: the Lord of the gods

• रुद्रम्: Rudra (Śiva)

• भुवननायकम्: leader/lord of the worlds

• अविमुक्ते: in Avimukta (Kāśī)

• च: and

• तपसा: by austerity, through tapas

• मन्दरस्य: of Mandara

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva
• Mandara
• Avimukta (Kashi)

FAQs

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

It presents Rudra-arcana grounded in tapas at Avimukta, implying that Linga/Shiva worship becomes most potent when devotion is disciplined by austerity and performed in a sacred kṣetra associated with liberation.

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

Śiva is praised as Deveśa and Bhuvana-nāyaka—Pati, the supreme Lord who governs the cosmos and is approached through worship that purifies the paśu from pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas-based Rudra-pūjā (archanā supported by austerity), aligning with a Pāśupata orientation where inner discipline empowers outer worship and hastens grace.