Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

लिङ्गार्चनविधिक्रमः—शुद्धि, न्यास, आसनकल्पना, अभिषेक, स्तोत्र-प्रदक्षिणा

Adhyaya 27

Devanagari script

आदिमध्यान्तरहितं भेषजं भवरोगिणाम् शिवतत्त्वमिति ख्यातं शिवलिङ्गे व्यवस्थितम्

Transliteration

ādimadhyāntarahitaṃ bheṣajaṃ bhavarogiṇām śivatattvamiti khyātaṃ śivaliṅge vyavasthitam

Translation

ஆதி, நடு, முடிவு இன்றிய அந்த சிவத்தத்துவம் பவநோயால் பீடிக்கப்பட்ட உயிர்களுக்கு பரம மருந்தெனப் புகழ்பெற்றது; அது சிவலிங்கத்தில் நிலைபெற்றுள்ளது.

Word by Word

• आदि: beginning

• मध्य: middle

• अन्त: end

• रहितम्: devoid of

• भेषजम्: medicine, remedy

• भव-रोगिणाम्: of those sick with bhava (worldly becoming)

• शिव-तत्त्वम्: the principle/reality of Shiva (Pati)

• इति: thus

• ख्यातम्: renowned, well-known

• शिव-लिङ्गे: in the Shiva-linga

• व्यवस्थितम्: established, abiding

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva-Linga

FAQs

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

It identifies the Śiva-liṅga as the locus where Shiva-tattva is ‘established,’ making Linga-pūjā a direct contemplative and devotional means to cure bhava-roga (bondage to saṃsāra) for the pashu (soul).

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

Shiva-tattva is described as ādi–madhya–anta-rahita—beyond temporal sequence—indicating Pati as transcendent, while also immanent as present in the liṅga for the soul’s upāya (saving means).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Linga-upāsanā (worship/meditation on the liṅga) is implied as a therapeutic sādhanā: focusing the mind on the beginningless Shiva-tattva to loosen pasha (bondage) and move the pashu toward mokṣa.