Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 138

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

कन्धरे च स्थितायैव तालुरन्ध्रस्थिताय च भ्रूमध्ये संस्थितायैव नादमध्ये स्थिताय च

Transliteration

kandhare ca sthitāyaiva tālurandhrasthitāya ca bhrūmadhye saṃsthitāyaiva nādamadhye sthitāya ca

Translation

ಆ ಶಕ್ತಿ ಕಂಠದಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಿತವಾಗಿದೆ; ತಾಲುವಿನ ರಂಧ್ರದಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಸ್ಥಿತವಾಗಿದೆ; ಭ್ರೂಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಿತವಾಗಿದೆ; ಮತ್ತು ನಾದಮಧ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ವಾಸಿಸುತ್ತದೆ—ಅಂತರ್ಲಿಂಗವಾಗಿ, ಅಲ್ಲಿ ಪತಿ ಸాక్షಾತ್ಕಾರವಾಗುತ್ತಾನೆ.

Word by Word

• कन्धरे: in the throat

• च: and

• स्थितायैव: indeed abiding/established

• तालु-रन्ध्र-स्थिताय: abiding in the palatal aperture (tālu-randhra)

• च: and

• भ्रू-मध्ये: in the middle of the eyebrows

• संस्थितायैव: firmly established

• नाद-मध्ये: in the midst of nāda (inner sound)

• स्थिताय: abiding

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva yogic doctrine to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It shifts Liṅga-pūjā from only external installation to internal realization: the devotee contemplates Śakti in subtle centers (throat, palate, bhrūmadhya) and finally in nāda, where the inner Liṅga is directly apprehended.

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

Śiva-tattva is indicated as Pati realized through Śakti’s subtle presence; when awareness enters nāda, the bound pashu (soul) loosens pāśa (bondage) by interior communion with the Lord rather than mere outward perception.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A nāda-centered Pāśupata-style internal practice: dhyāna on bhrūmadhya and ascent through subtle loci culminating in absorption in nāda—an inner form of worship (antar-yāga/mānasa-pūjā).