Shloka 1

स्वेच्छाविग्रहसंभव-प्रतिष्ठाफलवर्णनम् (विविधशिवमूर्तिप्रतिष्ठा, लोक-फल, शिवसायुज्य)

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे शिवाद्वैतकथनं नाम पञ्चसप्ततितमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि स्वेच्छाविग्रहसंभवम् प्रतिष्ठायाः फलं सर्वं सर्वलोकहिताय वै

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge śivādvaitakathanaṃ nāma pañcasaptatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi svecchāvigrahasaṃbhavam pratiṣṭhāyāḥ phalaṃ sarvaṃ sarvalokahitāya vai

Translation

ఇట్లు శ్రీలింగ మహాపురాణము పూర్వభాగములో “శివాద్వైతకథనం” అనే డెబ్బై ఆరవ అధ్యాయము. సూతుడు పలికెను—ఇకపై భగవంతుడు తన స్వేచ్ఛచే అవతరింపజేసిన విగ్రహసంభవాన్ని, అలాగే ప్రతిష్ఠ యొక్క సంపూర్ణ ఫలాన్ని—సర్వలోక హితార్థంగా—వివరిస్తాను.

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the auspicious Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the former section

• śiva-advaita-kathanam: the narration/teaching of Shiva’s non-duality

• nāma: named

• pañca-saptatitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the seventy-sixth chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• ataḥ param: after this/thereafter

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall expound

• svecchā: by (His) own will

• vigraha: embodied form/manifest form

• saṃbhavam: arising/manifestation

• pratiṣṭhāyāḥ: of consecration/installation

• phalam: fruit/result

• sarvam: all/entire

• sarva-loka-hitāya: for the benefit of all worlds

• vai: indeed.

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Suta

FAQs

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

It functions as the chapter’s opening promise: Sūta will teach the origin of Shiva’s self-willed manifestation and the full spiritual merit (phala) of Liṅga consecration (pratiṣṭhā), framing Linga worship as a welfare-giving act for all worlds.

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

By stating that the Lord’s form arises through His own free will (svecchā), it implies Shiva as Pati—self-sufficient, sovereign consciousness—whose manifestation is not compelled by karma or external causes, aligning with a Shaiva understanding of supreme autonomy.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritually, it highlights pratiṣṭhā (consecration/installation of the Liṅga) and its results; yogically, it points toward contemplation of Shiva’s independent, non-dual nature—supporting Pashupata-oriented devotion where the pashu (soul) seeks release from pāśa (bondage) by turning to Pati.