Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

व्यपोहनस्तवनिरूपण-प्रसङ्गे नक्तभोजन-शिवव्रतविधिः (वार्षिक-प्रतिमास-क्रमः)

Devanagari script

सोपवासं चतुर्दश्यां भवेदुभयपक्षयोः रुद्राय पौर्णमास्यां तु दद्याद्वै घृतकम्बलम्

Transliteration

sopavāsaṃ caturdaśyāṃ bhavedubhayapakṣayoḥ rudrāya paurṇamāsyāṃ tu dadyādvai ghṛtakambalam

Translation

दोनों पक्षों की चतुर्दशी को उपवास-व्रत करे; और पौर्णमासी को रुद्र के लिए घृत-लेपित कम्बल अवश्य दान दे—यह शिव-पूजन को पुष्ट कर पशु को पाश से छूटने की ओर ले जाता है।

Word by Word

• sa-upavāsam: together with fasting

• caturdaśyām: on the fourteenth (tithi)

• bhavet: should be/should be done

• ubhaya-pakṣayoḥ: in both fortnights (bright and dark)

• rudrāya: unto Rudra (Shiva)

• paurṇamāsyām: on the full-moon day

• tu: and/indeed

• dadyāt: should give/offer

• vai: certainly

• ghṛta-kambalam: a blanket/shawl (kambala) with ghee (ghṛta), i.e., ghee-anointed woollen covering

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links Linga-centered Shaiva discipline to concrete observances—fasting on both Chaturdashis and dana on Purnima—showing that devotion is expressed through vrata (self-restraint) and charitable offering to Rudra as part of Shiva-puja.

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

Shiva is addressed as Rudra, the Pati who receives offerings and grants purification; the verse implies that grace is approached through regulated conduct that loosens pasha (bondage) upon the pashu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A vrata practice: upavasa (fasting) on the 14th tithi of both pakshas, coupled with dana on Purnima—supporting the Shaiva path where discipline and offering function as auxiliaries to inner purification aligned with Pashupata-oriented worship.