Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 15

Mahādeva’s Boon: Unwavering Bhakti, Tri-functional Cosmos, and the Supratiṣṭhā of Liṅga-Arcā

Devanagari script

तदाप्रभृति लोकेषु लिङ्गार्चा सुप्रतिष्ठिता लिङ्गवेदी महादेवी लिङ्गं साक्षान्महेश्वरः

Transliteration

tadāprabhṛti lokeṣu liṅgārcā supratiṣṭhitā liṅgavedī mahādevī liṅgaṃ sākṣānmaheśvaraḥ

Translation

Mula noon, sa lahat ng mga daigdig, ang pagsamba sa Liṅga ay matibay na naitatag. Ang liṅga-vedī (altar ng Liṅga) ay si Mahādevī mismo, at ang Liṅga ay si Maheśvara na hayag at tuwirang naroroon.

Word by Word

• tadāprabhṛti: from that time onward

• lokeṣu: in the worlds

• liṅga-arcā: worship/adoration of the Liṅga

• su-pratiṣṭhitā: well-established, firmly instituted

• liṅga-vedī: the altar/base of the Liṅga

• mahādevī: the Great Goddess (Śakti)

• liṅgam: the Liṅga

• sākṣāt: directly, in manifest presence

• maheśvaraḥ: Lord Maheśvara (Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadevi (Shakti/Parvati)

FAQs

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

It declares liṅgārcā as a universally established sādhana and affirms that worship offered to the Liṅga reaches Śiva directly, making Liṅga-pūjā a primary, authoritative mode of devotion in the Linga Purana.

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

Śiva is identified as “sākṣāt Maheśvara” in the Liṅga—Pati made immediately accessible to the paśu (individual soul) through a consecrated form, without reducing His transcendence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Liṅga-arcana with proper pratishthā is highlighted: honoring the Liṅga together with its vedī, understanding the vedī as Śakti and the Liṅga as Śiva—an essential Shaiva ritual framework that supports Pāśupata-oriented devotion and purification.