Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 4

Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 74 — ब्रह्मप्रोक्तलिङ्गार्चनविधिः

Materials, Classes, and Fruits of Linga-Worship

Devanagari script

स्फाटिकं वरुणो राजा आदित्यास्ताम्रनिर्मितम् मौक्तिकं सोमराड् धीमांस् तथा लिङ्गमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

sphāṭikaṃ varuṇo rājā ādityāstāmranirmitam mauktikaṃ somarāḍ dhīmāṃs tathā liṅgamanuttamam

Translation

ରାଜା ବରୁଣ ସ୍ଫଟିକମୟ ଲିଙ୍ଗକୁ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠା କଲେ। ଆଦିତ୍ୟମାନେ ତାମ୍ରନିର୍ମିତ ଲିଙ୍ଗକୁ, ଏବଂ ଧୀମାନ୍ ସୋମରାଜ ମୌକ୍ତିକମୟ ଅନୁତ୍ତମ ଲିଙ୍ଗକୁ ପ୍ରତିଷ୍ଠା କଲେ। ଏହିପରି ଭିନ୍ନ ପବିତ୍ର ପ୍ରତୀକରେ ସେମାନେ ପରମ ପତି ଶିବଙ୍କୁ ପୂଜିଲେ।

Word by Word

• स्फाटिकम्: crystal (rock-crystal)

• वरुणः: Varuṇa, lord of waters

• राजा: king

• आदित्याः: the Ādityas (solar deities)

• ताम्र-निर्मितम्: made of copper

• मौक्तिकम्: made of pearl

• सोमराट्: Soma, Moon-king

• धीमान्: wise, discerning

• तथा: and thus

• लिङ्गम्: Liṅga, emblem of Śiva (Pati)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed, supreme

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Varuna
• Adityas
• Soma

FAQs

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

It shows that even cosmic deities worship Śiva as Pati by establishing Liṅgas of specific substances, emphasizing that consecrated Liṅga-pūjā is a universally valid means of honoring the Supreme.

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

By calling the Liṅga “anuttama” (unsurpassed), the verse points to Śiva-tattva as supreme and transcendent—worshipped through a symbol that can be approached in many forms while remaining beyond all material limitation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Liṅga-pratiṣṭhā and material-specific Liṅga-pūjā are highlighted; in a Pāśupata frame, such outer worship supports inner recollection of Pati, loosening pāśa (bondage) upon the paśu (soul).