Shloka 7

Devanagari script

लिङ्गस्तु भगवान्द्वाभ्यां जगत्सृष्टिर्द्विजोत्तमाः लिङ्गमूर्तिः शिवो ज्योतिस् तमसश्चोपरि स्थितः

Transliteration

liṅgastu bhagavāndvābhyāṃ jagatsṛṣṭirdvijottamāḥ liṅgamūrtiḥ śivo jyotis tamasaścopari sthitaḥ

Translation

ഹേ ദ്വിജോത്തമന്മാരേ, ഭഗവാൻ ലിംഗസ്വരൂപനായി ശിവ-ശക്തി എന്ന യുഗളത്തിലൂടെ ജഗത്സൃഷ്ടി നടത്തുന്നു. ലിംഗമൂർത്തിയായ ശിവൻ പരമജ്യോതി; തമസ്സിനും അതിന്റെ മറവുശക്തിക്കും അതീതനായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गः: the Liṅga (sign/symbolic form)

• तु: indeed

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord (Pati)

• द्वाभ्याम्: by the two (Śiva–Śakti pair)

• जगत्-सृष्टिः: creation of the world

• द्विजोत्तमाः: O best of the twice-born (address to Brahmins/sages)

• लिङ्ग-मूर्तिः: having the Liṅga as His form

• शिवः: Śiva, the auspicious Lord

• ज्योतिः: Light, luminous consciousness

• तमसः: of darkness/ignorance

• च: and

• उपरि: above

• स्थितः: established/abiding.

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Linga

FAQs

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

It identifies the Liṅga as Bhagavān Himself—Śiva’s revelatory form—so worship is not merely symbolic but a direct approach to Pati (the Lord) as the transcendent Jyotis who grants creation, order, and grace.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented as self-luminous Consciousness (Jyotis) that stands above tamas (ignorance/obscuration). As Liṅga-mūrti, He is both immanent (worshipable form) and transcendent (beyond darkness and limitation).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse primarily supports Liṅga-pūjā as worship of the supreme Jyotis; yogically, it points to meditation on Śiva as inner light beyond tamas—aligning with Pāśupata-oriented contemplation that loosens pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul).