Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा-माहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of Liṅga Installation

Devanagari script

मध्ये समाविरभवल्लिंगमैश्वरमद्भुतम् । ज्वालामालासहस्राढ्यमप्रमेयमनौपमम्

Transliteration

madhye samāvirabhavalliṃgamaiśvaramadbhutam | jvālāmālāsahasrāḍhyamaprameyamanaupamam

Translation

Au cœur même de cette manifestation apparut le Liṅga souverain du Seigneur, prodigieux, paré de milliers de guirlandes de flammes, incommensurable et sans égal.

Word by Word

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• समाविरभवत्: appeared/manifested
• समाविरभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + आ + वि + रभ्/भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• लिङ्गम्: the liṅga
• लिङ्गम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• ऐश्वरम्: divine/lordly
• ऐश्वरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अद्भुतम्: wonderful
• अद्भुतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ज्वालामाला-सहस्र-आढ्यम्: endowed with a thousand garlands of flames
• ज्वालामाला-सहस्र-आढ्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वाला + माला + सहस्र + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ज्वालामालानां सहस्रेण आढ्यम् = 'endowed with a thousand garlands of flames'); विशेषण

• अप्रमेयम्: immeasurable
• अप्रमेयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + प्रमेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/नकारान्त-निषेध (negated adjective)

• अनौपमम्: incomparable
• अनौपमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + अनुपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; नञ्-निषेध

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This is the archetypal Liṅgodbhava episode: the infinite fiery liṅga manifests between Brahmā and Viṣṇu to halt their contest and reveal the Lord’s transcendence beyond measurable limits.

Significance: Contemplation of the anādi-ananta liṅga cultivates humility and turns the bound soul (paśu) from rivalry/ego toward Śiva’s grace (anugraha) through recognition of His immeasurable sovereignty.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Theophany of the ananta-jyotis (limitless column of fire) interrupting the Brahmā–Viṣṇu dispute.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It presents Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord—revealing Himself as the Linga of pure divine radiance (tejas), beyond measurement and comparison, indicating the soul’s path from limited perception to awe-filled recognition of the Infinite.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The verse depicts the Linga as Shiva’s accessible, worship-worthy manifestation (saguna-upāsya) that still points beyond form—its flaming, immeasurable nature teaches that the icon is not mere stone but a doorway to the limitless Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on the Linga as a pillar of light at the heart (madhye), offer lamp/flame worship (dīpa-ārati) with the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate inner reverence for Shiva’s immeasurable presence.