Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 35

ब्रह्मकृत-ईशानस्तवः तथा विश्वरूपदेवी-प्रकृतिरहस्योपदेशः

Devanagari script

अजामेकां लोहितां शुक्लकृष्णां विश्वप्रजां सृजमानां सरूपाम् अजो ऽहं मां विद्धि तां विश्वरूपं गायत्रीं गां विश्वरूपां हि बुद्ध्या

Transliteration

ajāmekāṃ lohitāṃ śuklakṛṣṇāṃ viśvaprajāṃ sṛjamānāṃ sarūpām ajo 'haṃ māṃ viddhi tāṃ viśvarūpaṃ gāyatrīṃ gāṃ viśvarūpāṃ hi buddhyā

Translation

Kilalanin ang iisang Di‑Ipinanganak (Aja)—pula, puti, at itim—na, sa pag-aangkin ng mga katugmang anyo, ay lumilikha ng lahat ng nilalang sa sansinukob. Ako man ay di‑ipinanganak; unawain ninyo Ako bilang Katotohanang may lahat ng anyo. Sa gising na pag-unawa, kilalanin ang “Baka”—si Gayatrī—bilang may anyong pangkalahatan.

Word by Word

• ajām: the Unborn (Prakṛti/Śakti as unborn principle)

• ekām: one, single

• lohitām: red (rajas, creative dynamism)

• śukla-kṛṣṇām: white and black (sattva and tamas)

• viśva-prajām: all creatures of the universe

• sṛjamānām: creating, bringing forth

• sa-rūpām: with (corresponding) forms

• ajaḥ: unborn (Pati, the Lord beyond birth)

• aham: I

• mām: Me

• viddhi: know, understand

• tām: that (same principle)

• viśva-rūpam: having the form of the universe, all-pervasive

• gāyatrīm: Gayatrī (Vedic mantra/Śakti of illumination)

• gām: the Cow (symbol of Veda, speech, and nourishing power)

• hi: indeed

• buddhyā: by intellect/discernment (viveka-jñāna).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purva-Bhaga teachings; presenting a Shaiva reading of Gayatri as Shiva-Shakti power)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti
• Gayatri

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-tattva as the formless Pati whose power (Śakti) manifests the universe through the three guṇas; Linga worship therefore trains buddhi (discernment) to see the one Reality behind all forms.

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

Shiva is indicated as Aja (unborn) and Viśvarūpa (all-formed): untouched by birth yet immanent as the cosmos, with Śakti operating as the creative principle that appears as red/white/black (rajas/sattva/tamas).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A viveka-based contemplative practice: using buddhi to perceive Gayatrī (mantra-Śakti) as universal, aligning japa/upanā (mantric worship) with Pāśupata insight—Pashu (soul) loosens Pāśa (bondage) by knowing Pati as the one beyond the guṇas.