Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

विष्णुचक्रलाभो नाम (अर्धनारीश्वर-तत्त्वं, सती-पार्वती-सम्भवः, दक्षयज्ञविनाशः)

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे सहस्रनामभिः पूजनाद् विष्णुचक्रलाभो नामाष्टनवतितमो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः संभवः सूचितो देव्यास् त्वया सूत महामते सविस्तरं वदस्वाद्य सतीत्वे च यथातथम्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge sahasranāmabhiḥ pūjanād viṣṇucakralābho nāmāṣṭanavatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ saṃbhavaḥ sūcito devyās tvayā sūta mahāmate savistaraṃ vadasvādya satītve ca yathātatham

Translation

इस प्रकार श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराण के पूर्वभाग में ‘सहस्रनाम-पूजन से विष्णुचक्र-लाभ’ नामक निन्यानवेवाँ अध्याय आरम्भ होता है। ऋषियों ने कहा—हे सूत, महामति! आपने देवी के प्राकट्य का संकेत किया है; अब उसे यथार्थ रूप से विस्तार से कहिए, और उनके सतीत्व का भी जैसा था वैसा वर्णन कीजिए।

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the auspicious Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• sahasra-nāmabhiḥ: by (means of) a thousand names

• pūjanāt: from worship

• viṣṇu-cakra-lābhaḥ: the obtaining of Viṣṇu’s discus

• nāma: named/called

• aṣṭa-navati-tamaḥ: ninety-ninth

• adhyāyaḥ: chapter

• ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ: the sages said

• saṃbhavaḥ: arising/manifestation (birth/origin)

• sūcitaḥ: indicated/briefly mentioned

• devyāḥ: of the Goddess

• tvayā: by you

• sūta: O Sūta

• mahāmate: O great-minded one

• savistaram: in detail

• vadasva: speak/tell

• adya: now

• satītve: regarding satītva (chastity/fidelity, steadfastness in dharma)

• ca: and

• yathā-tatham: exactly as it happened/in accordance with the truth.

Speaker

Sages (Rishis) of Naimisharanya

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Devi (Goddess/Shakti)
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It frames the chapter’s theme: spiritual attainment through nāma-japa and pūjā (worship by sacred names), a core method in Liṅga-oriented devotion that purifies the pashu (individual soul) and turns it toward Pati (Śiva).

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

Indirectly, it points to Śiva-tattva as the supreme bestower of siddhi and protection: the chapter title signals that even Viṣṇu’s divine weapon is obtained through devotional worship—implying the supremacy of grace (anugraha) and the efficacy of Śiva-centered nāma-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Sahasranāma-pūjā (worship through a thousand names) is highlighted as a disciplined devotional practice—combining mantra, remembrance, and ritual offering—functioning as a bhakti-sādhana aligned with Shaiva modes of upāsanā.