Shloka 12

लिङ्गार्चनपूर्वकं स्नानाचमनविधिः

Snana–Achamana as Preparation for Linga-Archana

Devanagari script

नृणां हि चित्तकमलं प्रबुद्धमभवद्यदा प्रसुप्तं तमसा ज्ञानभानोर्भासा तदा शुचिः

Transliteration

nṛṇāṃ hi cittakamalaṃ prabuddhamabhavadyadā prasuptaṃ tamasā jñānabhānorbhāsā tadā śuciḥ

Translation

മനുഷ്യരുടെ ചിത്തകമലം തമസ്സിന്റെ അന്ധകാരത്തിൽ ഉറങ്ങിക്കിടന്നത് ജ്ഞാനസൂര്യന്റെ പ്രകാശത്തിൽ ഉണരുമ്പോൾ, അന്തഃകരണം ശുചിയാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• नृणाम्: of human beings

• हि: indeed

• चित्तकमलम्: the mind-lotus (lotus of consciousness)

• प्रबुद्धम्: awakened, fully roused

• अभवत्: became

• यदा: when

• प्रसुप्तम्: asleep, dormant

• तमसा: by darkness, by tamas (inertia/ignorance)

• ज्ञानभानोः: of the Sun of Knowledge

• भासा: by the radiance, by the light

• तदा: then

• शुचिः: pure, cleansed

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as inner awakening: the devotee (pashu) becomes fit for worship when the mind-lotus is illumined by jñāna, removing tamasic darkness that sustains bondage (pāśa).

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as the jñāna-prakāśa (light of awareness) that awakens and purifies; as Pati, Shiva dispels tamas and enables the pashu to recognize consciousness as its true ground.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It points to jñāna-yoga and antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi within a Pāśupata-oriented path—cultivating clarity (sattva) through contemplation and disciplined practice so the inner lotus can awaken for authentic Shiva-puja.