Shloka 1

उमास्वयंवरः / भवोद्वाहः, गणसमागमः, अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम्, तथा विनायक-उत्पत्तिसूचना

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे उमास्वयंवरो नाम द्व्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच अथ ब्रह्मा महादेवम् अभिवन्द्य कृताञ्जलिः उद्वाहः क्रियतां देव इत्युवाच महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge umāsvayaṃvaro nāma dvyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca atha brahmā mahādevam abhivandya kṛtāñjaliḥ udvāhaḥ kriyatāṃ deva ityuvāca maheśvaram

Translation

Así, en el Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, en la sección Pūrva-bhāga, comienza el capítulo ciento tres, llamado “El Svayaṃvara de Umā”. Dijo Sūta: Entonces Brahmā, tras inclinarse ante Mahādeva con las manos juntas, se dirigió a Maheśvara diciendo: “Oh Deva, que se celebre el matrimonio.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

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

• pūrva-bhāge: in the former section

• umā-svayaṃvaraḥ: Umā’s self-choice (svayaṃvara)

• nāma: named

• dvy-adhika-śatatamaḥ: one-hundred-and-third

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• atha: then

• brahmā: Brahmā

• mahādevam: to Mahādeva (Śiva)

• abhivandya: having saluted

• kṛta-añjaliḥ: with hands folded in reverence

• udvāhaḥ: marriage/nuptial rite

• kriyatām: let it be done/solemnized

• deva: O Lord

• iti: thus

• uvāca: said

• maheśvaram: to Maheśvara (the Great Lord, Śiva)

Speaker

Sūta

Characters & Entities

• Sūta
• Brahmā
• Mahādeva (Śiva)
• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Umā (implicit via chapter title)

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva’s forthcoming marriage as a sacred, dhārmic act sanctioned by Brahmā, showing that devotion to the Liṅga (Pati) integrates both transcendence and righteous worldly order rather than rejecting it.

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

Śiva is addressed as Mahādeva and Maheśvara—the sovereign Pati—before whom even Brahmā stands with folded hands, indicating Śiva-tattva as the supreme lordship that governs creation while remaining the object of highest reverence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights udvāha (the Vedic marriage rite) as a sanctified saṃskāra; in Shaiva framing it supports disciplined gṛhastha-dharma as compatible with inner Pāśupata orientation toward the Pati.