Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 43

मुनिमोहशमनम्

Pāśupata-yoga, Siddhis, Puruṣa-darśana, Saṃsāra, and Prāṇa-Rudra Pañcāhutī

Devanagari script

सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत् सर्वतो ऽक्षिशिरोमुखम् सर्वतः श्रुतिमल् लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति

Transliteration

sarvataḥ pāṇipādaṃ tat sarvato 'kṣiśiromukham sarvataḥ śrutimal loke sarvamāvṛtya tiṣṭhati

Translation

वह परम तत्त्व (पति-शिव) सर्वत्र हाथ-पाँव वाला है; सर्वत्र ही उसके नेत्र, शिर और मुख हैं। जगत में वह सर्वत्र श्रोता है; सबको आवृत करके, सबमें स्थित रहता है।

Word by Word

• सर्वतः: on all sides/everywhere

• पाणि-पादम्: having hands and feet

• तत्: that (Supreme Principle)

• सर्वतः: everywhere

• अक्षि: eyes

• शिरस्: head

• मुखम्: face/mouth

• सर्वतः: everywhere

• श्रुतिमत्: endowed with hearing/the Hearer

• लोके: in the world

• सर्वम्: all

• आवृत्य: having covered/enveloped/pervaded

• तिष्ठति: stands/abides/remains

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga-pūjā in metaphysics: the Liṅga signifies Śiva as the all-pervading Pati who envelops the entire cosmos, so worship is directed to the One present in all forms, not a limited idol.

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

It presents Śiva as omnipresent and all-knowing—having ‘hands, feet, eyes, heads, faces, and hearing everywhere’—indicating His immanence in all beings while remaining the supreme controller (Pati) beyond pasha-bound limitation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pāśupata-oriented contemplative practice: cultivate sarvātma-bhāva (seeing Śiva everywhere) during japa, dhyāna, and Liṅga-pūjā, dissolving the pashu’s sense of separateness that sustains pāśa (bondage).