Shloka 131

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

षोडशात्मस्वरूपाय मकाराय नमोनमः अष्टधात्मस्वरूपाय अर्धमात्रात्मने नमः

Transliteration

ṣoḍaśātmasvarūpāya makārāya namonamaḥ aṣṭadhātmasvarūpāya ardhamātrātmane namaḥ

Translation

పదహారు ఆత్మల స్వరూపమైన ‘మ’ అక్షరానికి పునఃపునః నమస్కారం. ఎనిమిది ఆత్మల స్వరూపుడై అర్ధమాత్రగా నిలిచే సూక్ష్మ పరాత్పరునికి నమస్కారం॥

Word by Word

• ṣoḍaśa: sixteenfold

• ātma-svarūpa: whose essential nature is the Self/principle

• -āya: unto

• makāra: the syllable ‘ma’

• namaḥ namaḥ: salutations again and again

• aṣṭadhā: eightfold

• ardha-mātrā: half-mora/half-measure (the subtle transcendental sound-unit beyond full articulation)

• ātmane: whose essence is

• namaḥ: salutations

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shaiva stuti/mantra passage within the Linga Purana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-puja as mantra-centered: Shiva is praised through the seed-sound (makāra) and the transcendent ardha-mātrā, indicating worship that moves from audible japa to inner stillness where Pati is realized beyond sound.

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

Shiva is presented as the ground of multiple cosmic structures (eightfold and sixteenfold manifestations) while simultaneously being the subtlest reality—ardha-mātrā—beyond measurable phonetic expression, the Pati who transcends pasha-bound differentiation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa and nāda-anusandhāna (contemplation of inner sound): beginning with the audible syllable “ma,” the sādhaka refines awareness toward the ardha-mātrā—silent, subtle absorption aligned with Pashupata-oriented inner worship.