Shloka 99

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

लिङ्गाध्यक्षः सुराध्यक्षः कालाध्यक्षो युगावहः बीजाध्यक्षो बीजकर्ता अध्यात्मानुगतो बलः

Transliteration

liṅgādhyakṣaḥ surādhyakṣaḥ kālādhyakṣo yugāvahaḥ bījādhyakṣo bījakartā adhyātmānugato balaḥ

Translation

ఆయన లింగాధ్యక్షుడు, దేవాధ్యక్షుడు, కాలాధ్యక్షుడు, యుగాలను వహించువాడు. ఆయన బీజాధ్యక్షుడు, బీజకర్త; అధ్యాత్మాన్ని అనుసరించే అంతర్భలమూ ఆయనే.

Word by Word

• लिङ्गाध्यक्षः: overlord/presiding lord of the Liṅga

• सुराध्यक्षः: overlord of the Devas

• कालाध्यक्षः: overseer of Time

• युगावहः: bearer/ordainer of the world-ages (yugas)

• बीजाध्यक्षः: overseer of the seed-principle (causal germ)

• बीजकर्ता: maker/creator of the seed

• अध्यात्म-अनुगतः: aligned with/operating through the inner Self (adhyātma)

• बलः: power, strength, sovereign potency

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s epithets to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Shiva as Liṅgādhyakṣa—the presiding Lord of the Liṅga—so the Liṅga is not merely a symbol but the governed locus of Pati’s presence, worthy of worship as the supreme controller.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati: ruler of devas, time, and cosmic cycles, and also as the causal ground (bīja) and its maker—transcendent over creation yet immanent as the adhyātma-guiding inner power.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Adhyātma-oriented worship and Pashupata contemplation are implied: the practitioner turns inward to the indwelling Lord while performing Liṅga-pūjā, recognizing Shiva as the controller of kāla and the source-seed of all manifestation.