Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 178
यवजं देवलो लिंगं पतिमित्येव नाम च । वल्मीकजं च वाल्मीकिश्चिरवासीति नाम च
yavajaṃ devalo liṃgaṃ patimityeva nāma ca | valmīkajaṃ ca vālmīkiściravāsīti nāma ca
தேவலர் யவத்தால் ஆன லிங்கத்தை நிறுவினார்; அதற்கு ‘பதி’—ஆண்டவன்—என்று பெயர். வால்மீகி வல்மீகம் (எறும்புப் புற்று) சார்ந்த லிங்கத்தை நிறுவி, அதனை ‘சிரவாசி’—என்றும் தங்குபவன்—என்று அழைத்தார்.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) addressing the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Listener: Ṛṣis (Naimiṣāraṇya frame)
Scene: Two sages in a forested hermitage: Devala shaping a small barley liṅga on a clean altar; Vālmīki near an anthill, reverently forming/adorning an earthen liṅga, with Śiva’s subtle presence implied by aura and bilva leaves.
FAQs
Śiva’s presence is ‘ever-abiding’—discoverable even in humble earth like an anthill and worshipable through the simplest grains.
No explicit tirtha is mentioned; the verse highlights sages and their consecrations rather than a pilgrimage locale.
Constructing a Liṅga from barley or earth (anthill) is implied; no further ritual details are given.