Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 69

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

उपचारस्तु क्रियते लोकानां हितकाम्यया इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थाश् च महाभूतानि पञ्च च

Transliteration

upacārastu kriyate lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā indriyāṇīndriyārthāś ca mahābhūtāni pañca ca

Translation

El upacāra (servicio ritual) se realiza con el deseo del bienestar de los seres; abarca las facultades sensoriales y sus objetos, y también los cinco grandes elementos. Así, todo el campo de la experiencia encarnada es ofrecido y armonizado en la bhakti hacia Pati, el Señor Śiva.

Word by Word

• upacāraḥ: ritual service, honoring worship

• tu: indeed, moreover

• kriyate: is performed

• lokānām: of the worlds/people (beings)

• hita-kāmyayā: with the desire for welfare/benefit

• indriyāṇi: the sense faculties

• indriya-arthāḥ: the objects of the senses

• ca: and

• mahā-bhūtāni: the great elements

• pañca: five

• ca: also

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Linga Purana teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-pūjā as a total consecration: not only external offerings, but the dedication of the senses, their objects, and the five elements—making worship a comprehensive alignment of embodied life toward Śiva.

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

By implying that all indriyas, their viṣayas, and the mahābhūtas can be gathered into worship, it points to Śiva as Pati—the transcendent Lord who pervades and receives the entire tattvic field while remaining its sovereign.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Upacāra is presented as both pūjā and yogic discipline: restraining and sanctifying indriyas (sense-control) and offering the bhūta-field itself—an approach consistent with Pāśupata-oriented inner worship.