Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Adhyaya 84: शिवव्रतकथनम्

Uma–Maheshvara Vrata, Shula-dana, and Month-wise Ekabhakta Vrata

Devanagari script

पौर्णमास्याममावास्यां वर्षमेकमतन्द्रिता उपवासरता नारी नरो ऽपि द्विजसत्तमाः

Transliteration

paurṇamāsyāmamāvāsyāṃ varṣamekamatandritā upavāsaratā nārī naro 'pi dvijasattamāḥ

Translation

ಹೇ ದ್ವಿಜಸತ್ತಮರೇ, ಪೂರ್ಣಿಮೆ ಮತ್ತು ಅಮಾವಾಸ್ಯೆಯಂದು ಒಂದು ವರ್ಷ ಕಾಲ ಯಾವ ಸ್ತ್ರೀ—ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಪುರುಷನೂ—ಅಲಸ್ಯವಿಲ್ಲದೆ ಉಪವಾಸದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿರತನಾಗಿರುತ್ತಾನೋ/ಇರುತ್ತಾಳೋ.

Word by Word

• पौर्णमास्याम्: on the full-moon day

• अमावास्याम्: on the new-moon day

• वर्षम्: for a year

• एकम्: one (full)

• अतन्द्रिता: untiring, vigilant

• उपवास-रता: devoted to fasting/observance

• नारी: woman

• नरः अपि: and a man also

• द्विज-सत्तमाः: O best among the twice-born

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prescribes a year-long discipline of fasting on Pūrṇimā and Amāvāsyā as a purificatory vrata that supports Śiva-pūjā and ripens the devotee for Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord—whose grace is approached through steadiness (atandritā) and self-restraint, weakening pāśa (bondage) that constrains the paśu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Upavāsa as a vrata: periodic fasting on lunar junctions (full and new moon) for a year, a tapas-oriented practice aligned with Shaiva observance and preparatory to deeper Pāśupata discipline.