Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 11

भुवनकोशस्वभाववर्णनम् — सप्तद्वीप-पर्वत-लोकविन्यासः तथा यक्ष-उमा-प्रकाशः

Devanagari script

तपसा तोषितः पूर्वं मन्दरेण महेश्वरः अविमुक्ते महाक्षेत्रे लेभे स परमं वरम्

Transliteration

tapasā toṣitaḥ pūrvaṃ mandareṇa maheśvaraḥ avimukte mahākṣetre lebhe sa paramaṃ varam

Translation

Noong una, kinalugdan ni Maheśvara ang pag-aayuno at pagsasadhana ni Mandara; at sa Avimukta, ang dakilang banal na pook (mahākṣetra), tinamo ni Mandara ang sukdulang biyaya—ang habag ni Śiva na nagpapaluwag sa pāśa (tali ng pagkagapos) at umaakay sa pashu (kaluluwang nakagapos) tungo sa paglaya sa ilalim ng Pati (Panginoon).

Word by Word

• तपसा (tapasā): by austerity, ascetic heat

• तोषितः (toṣitaḥ): pleased, satisfied

• पूर्वं (pūrvaṃ): formerly, earlier

• मन्दरेण (mandareṇa): by Mandara (a proper name)

• महेश्वरः (maheśvaraḥ): Maheśvara, the Great Lord (Shiva)

• अविमुक्ते (avimukte): in Avimukta (the ‘never-abandoned’ sacred place, Kāśī)

• महाक्षेत्रे (mahākṣetre): in the great holy field/pilgrimage-region

• लेभे (lebhe): obtained, received

• स (sa): he (Mandara)

• परमं (paramaṃ): supreme, highest

• वरम् (varam): boon, blessing.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheśvara
• Mandara
• Avimukta

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva’s anugraha (grace) as the fruit of tapas performed in a Shiva-kshetra (Avimukta), implying that Linga-centered devotion in such a field culminates in a “parama vara”—a liberation-oriented blessing rather than merely worldly gain.

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

Shiva is shown as Maheśvara—the supreme Pati—who responds to sincere tapas with compassionate satisfaction (toṣa) and bestows boons that can dissolve pāśa (bondage), revealing His role as both immanent sanctifier of the kshetra and transcendent liberator.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Tapas (austerity)—a core limb of Shaiva sadhana aligned with Pashupata discipline—where sustained ascetic practice and kshetra-seva invite Shiva’s anugraha, the decisive factor for the pashu’s release from pāśa.