Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 25

आभ्यन्तरध्यान-तत्त्वगणना-चतुर्व्यूहयोगः

Adhyaya 28

Devanagari script

सुनिष्ठेत्यत्र कथिता रुद्रं रौद्री न संशयः ऐन्द्री चेन्द्रे तथा सौम्या सोमे नारायणे तथा

Transliteration

suniṣṭhetyatra kathitā rudraṃ raudrī na saṃśayaḥ aindrī cendre tathā saumyā some nārāyaṇe tathā

Translation

Dito, ang bansag na “Suniṣṭhā” ay ipinahayag kaugnay ni Rudra—walang pag-aalinlangan, siya si Rudrāṇī (Raudrī). Gayundin, ang “Aindrī” ay para kay Indra, ang “Saumyā” ay para kay Soma; at sa gayon ding paraan, siya’y binabanggit din kaugnay ni Nārāyaṇa.

Word by Word

• suniṣṭhā: the well-established/firmly devoted (name/epithet)

• atra: here, in this context

• kathitā: is stated/declared

• rudram: with regard to Rudra

• raudrī (rudrāṇī): the Shakti/power of Rudra, the Rudra-consort aspect

• na saṃśayaḥ: no doubt

• aindrī: belonging to/associated with Indra (Indra’s Shakti)

• cendre (indre): in relation to Indra

• tathā: likewise

• saumyā: belonging to Soma, gentle/lunar (Soma’s Shakti)

• some: in relation to Soma

• nārāyaṇe: in relation to Nārāyaṇa (Viṣṇu)

• tathā: similarly/also

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Raudri (Rudrani/Shakti)
• Indra
• Soma
• Narayana (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It teaches a key Linga Purana hermeneutic: many divine names and powers (Shaktis) are read as correspondences, ultimately grounding worship in Rudra-Shiva as Pati, with other devata-relations understood as functional aspects.

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

By affirming “Raudri” as certainly belonging to Rudra and then mapping other devata-relations, it implies Shiva-tattva as the integrating Lord-principle in whom diverse divine functions and their Shaktis are gathered and interpreted.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The practical takeaway is devotional and contemplative: in japa or sahasranama-style recitation, the sādhaka meditates on devata-names as Shiva’s operative powers, reducing pasha-bound multiplicity into Pati-centered unity.