Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 139

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

विषमाक्षः कलाध्यक्षो वृषाङ्को वृषवर्धनः निर्मदो निरहङ्कारो निर्मोहो निरुपद्रवः

Transliteration

viṣamākṣaḥ kalādhyakṣo vṛṣāṅko vṛṣavardhanaḥ nirmado nirahaṅkāro nirmoho nirupadravaḥ

Translation

He is the Unequal-Eyed Lord (Viṣamākṣa), the Overseer of all kalās—powers and phases of manifestation. Marked with the Bull (Vṛṣāṅka), He increases dharma itself. Free from pride and ego, free from delusion, He is utterly without disturbance—ever the stainless Pati who loosens the pāśa that binds the paśu.

Word by Word

• विषमाक्षः: the Unequal-Eyed One (whose vision transcends ordinary dualities)

• कलाध्यक्षः: Lord/overseer of the kalās (divine powers, phases, arts, or principles of manifestation)

• वृषाङ्कः: He whose emblem/mark is the Bull (Nandin

• वृषवर्धनः: increaser of the Bull—enhancer of dharma and righteousness

• निर्मदः: free from arrogance/pride

• निरहङ्कारः: without ego-sense (ahaṅkāra)

• निर्मोहः: free from delusion (moha)

• निरुपद्रवः: free from affliction, agitation, or harmful disturbance

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It praises Shiva as the pure, disturbance-free Pati whose very nature is to uphold dharma (vṛṣa) and dissolve inner impurities like pride, ego, and delusion—qualities a devotee seeks to invoke through Linga-puja.

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

Shiva is presented as kalādhyakṣa (governor of manifesting powers) yet personally untouched by mala-like conditions—nirmada, nirahaṅkāra, nirmoha—showing transcendence over pasha while remaining the regulator of the cosmos.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to Pashupata-style inner discipline: renunciation of ahaṅkāra and moha, cultivating steadiness (nirupadrava) while worshipping Shiva as the dharma-sustaining Lord (vṛṣavardhana).