Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

नन्दिकेश्वरोत्पत्तिः — Nandikesvara’s Origin, Shiva’s Boons, and the Rise of Sacred Rivers

Devanagari script

अक्षयश्चाव्ययश्चैव सपिता ससुहृज्जनः ममेष्टो गणपश्चैव मद्वीर्यो मत्पराक्रमः

Transliteration

akṣayaścāvyayaścaiva sapitā sasuhṛjjanaḥ mameṣṭo gaṇapaścaiva madvīryo matparākramaḥ

Translation

वह अक्षय और अव्यय है; वही मेरा पिता और मेरा हितैषी है। वही मेरा इष्ट और गणों का अधिपति है; वही मेरी वीर्य‑शक्ति और मेरा पराक्रम है।

Word by Word

• अक्षयः: imperishable, undecaying

• अव्ययः: immutable, inexhaustible

• च एव: and indeed

• स-पिता: (He is) the father

• स-सुहृत्-जनः: the benevolent friend/well‑wisher

• मम: of me/my

• इष्टः: chosen, beloved Lord (iṣṭa-devatā)

• गणपः: leader/lord of the Gaṇas

• च एव: and indeed

• मत्-वीर्यः: my strength/virility (as derived from Him)

• मत्-पराक्रमः: my valor/heroic prowess (as empowered by Him)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a devotional stuti/epithet sequence within the Purva-Bhaga narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva as Akṣaya and Avyaya—the imperishable Pati—so Linga-worship is approached as reliance on the eternal Lord whose grace sustains and empowers the devotee (pashu) beyond change and decay.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as unconditioned and immutable (akṣaya, avyaya), yet intimately relational: father and well-wisher, the chosen Lord, and Gaṇapati—showing transcendence with compassionate immanence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A stuti-based upāsanā: repeating Shiva’s epithets as nāma-japa aligns the pashu’s mind to Pati, cultivating surrender and inner strength—an entry-point consistent with Pashupata-oriented devotion.