Agni Purana — Bhuvanakosha & Tirtha-mahatmya, Shloka 24
Chapter 116 — गयायात्राविधिः (Gayā-yātrā-vidhiḥ) | The Procedure for the Gayā Pilgrimage
सिद्धेश्वरञ्च रुद्रेशं रामेशं ब्रह्मकेश्वरम् अष्टलिङ्गानि गुह्यानि पूजयित्वा तु सर्वभाक्
siddheśvarañca rudreśaṃ rāmeśaṃ brahmakeśvaram aṣṭaliṅgāni guhyāni pūjayitvā tu sarvabhāk
เมื่อบูชาลึงค์ลับทั้งแปด ได้แก่ สิทเธศวร รุทเรศ ราเมศ และพรหมเกศวรแล้ว ผู้นั้นย่อมเป็นผู้มีส่วนในผลบุญและสิริมงคลทั้งปวง
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Liṅgārcana focused on a set of ‘aṣṭa-liṅga’ names; used as a checklist for worship, japa, or tīrtha-smaraṇa to obtain sarva-sampat (comprehensive auspicious merit).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Aṣṭa-guhya-liṅga nāmāni for worship and merit","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭa-liṅga","guhya liṅga","Siddheśvara","Rudreśa","Rāmeśa","Brahmakeśvara"],"quick_summary":"The verse presents a named set of ‘secret’ liṅgas; worship of them is stated to confer broad auspicious share (sarvabhāk), functioning as a compact liturgical list."}
Concept: Nāma-viśeṣa (specific divine names) as carriers of ritual efficacy; multiplicity of liṅgas as one Śiva-tattva
Application: In liṅgārcana, recite each name with bilva offering; can be used as a vrata-saṅkalpa list or as a concluding phala-śruti recitation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Lingarchana / Shiva-ksetra-mahatmya)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Bhakti
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Eight liṅgas arranged in a sacred circuit; a priest offers bilva leaves and water while reciting the names Siddheśvara, Rudreśa, Rāmeśa, Brahmakeśvara and the remaining implied liṅgas.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior garbhagṛha glow, eight black stone liṅgas with white tripuṇḍra markings, priest with brass lamp, bilva leaves, rhythmic repetition motif, warm ochres","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, eight small shrine panels around a central liṅga, heavy gold ornament on arches, bright vermilion and emerald, ritual vessels and bilva garlands prominent","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic aṣṭa-liṅga layout with labeled shrines, precise pūjā items (pañcapātra, udharaṇī, bilva), soft shading, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, temple courtyard with multiple small sanctums, attendants carrying offerings, fine stone textures, calligraphic labels for liṅga names, balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सिद्धेश्वरञ्च = सिद्धेश्वरम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 116 (liṅgārcana / Śiva-kṣetra-mahātmya cluster); Agni Purana liṅga-pūjā procedures elsewhere in pūjā-vidhi materials
FAQs
It prescribes guhyā (esoteric) liṅga-pūjā—worship of a specific set of eight Śiva-liṅgas, naming key liṅgas as part of the ritual sequence.
It exemplifies the Purāṇa’s practical cataloging of worship-systems (pūjā-vidhi), sacred names, and merit-results—one of the many applied religious “how-to” domains alongside polity, medicine, and arts.
The verse states that worship of these secret liṅgas yields comprehensive auspicious benefit—becoming “sarvabhāk,” i.e., a recipient/partaker of all merits and boons associated with the rite.