Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

मेरुवर्णनम्—प्रमाण, दिग्विभाग, देवपुरी-विमान-निवासाः

Devanagari script

महोदया चोत्तरे च ऐशान्यां तु यशोवती पर्वतस्य दिगन्तेषु शोभते दिवि सर्वदा

Transliteration

mahodayā cottare ca aiśānyāṃ tu yaśovatī parvatasya diganteṣu śobhate divi sarvadā

Translation

വടക്കിൽ മഹോദയാ; ഈശാന (വടക്കുകിഴക്ക്) ദിക്കിൽ യശോവതീ. പർവ്വതത്തിന്റെ ദിക്കുകളുടെ അറ്റങ്ങളിൽ ഈ പുണ്യലോകങ്ങൾ എപ്പോഴും ആകാശത്തിൽ ദീപ്തമായി ശോഭിക്കുന്നു—സകലദിക്കുകളെയും അധിപതിയായ പ്രഭുവിനെ സ്മരിപ്പിക്കുന്ന സാക്ഷിയായി।

Word by Word

• महोदया (mahodayā): Mahodayā, a divine/auspicious region

• च (ca): and

• उत्तरे (uttare): in the northern direction

• च (ca): also

• ऐशान्याम् (aiśānyām): in the Īśāna direction (north-east, Shiva’s quarter)

• तु (tu): indeed

• यशोवती (yaśovatī): Yaśovatī, the glorious region

• पर्वतस्य (parvatasya): of the mountain

• दिगन्तेषु (dig-anteṣu): at the ends/borders of the directions

• शोभते (śobhate): shines, is splendid

• दिवि (divi): in heaven, in the celestial realm

• सर्वदा (sarvadā): always, perpetually

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishana

FAQs

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

It links Shiva’s worship to sacred space: the north-east (Īśāna) quarter is Shiva’s own direction, so orienting shrines and performing Linga-puja with Īśāna awareness supports purity, auspiciousness, and alignment with Pati’s lordship over all directions.

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

By highlighting the Īśāna quarter and ever-shining celestial abodes, the verse implies Shiva as Pati—the transcendent regulator of cosmic order—whose presence sanctifies directions and realms beyond the ordinary field of bondage (pāśa).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Directional sanctification (dik-śuddhi) is implied—especially reverence to Īśāna in puja and meditation—supporting Pashupata-style discipline where the pashu (soul) orients mind and rite toward Pati to loosen pasha (bondage).