Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 18

Adhyaya 61 — ग्रह-नक्षत्र-स्थाननिर्णयः

Cosmic Abodes of Luminaries and the Shaiva Order of Time

Devanagari script

बृहत्तेजाः स्मृतो देवो देवाचार्यो ऽङ्गिरःसुतः बुधो मनोहरश्चैव ऋषिपुत्रस्तु स स्मृतः

Transliteration

bṛhattejāḥ smṛto devo devācāryo 'ṅgiraḥsutaḥ budho manoharaścaiva ṛṣiputrastu sa smṛtaḥ

Translation

Ang diyos na iyon ay inaalala bilang “Bṛhat-tejā” (may dakilang liwanag)—ang guro ng mga deva, anak ni Aṅgiras; siya rin ay kilala bilang Budha, ang kaakit-akit, at inaalala bilang anak ng isang ṛṣi.

Word by Word

• बृहत्तेजाः (bṛhat-tejāḥ): of great splendor, vastly radiant

• स्मृतः (smṛtaḥ): is remembered/known as

• देवः (devaḥ): the deity, divine being

• देवाचार्यः (devācāryaḥ): teacher/preceptor of the gods

• अङ्गिरःसुतः (aṅgiraḥ-sutaḥ): son of Aṅgiras

• बुधः (budhaḥ): Budha (the wise

• मनोहरः (manoharaḥ): charming, captivating

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed/also

• ऋषिपुत्रः (ṛṣi-putraḥ): son of a seer

• तु (tu): indeed

• सः (saḥ): he

• स्मृतः (smṛtaḥ): is remembered/declared.

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Angiras
• Budha
• Devas

FAQs

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

By identifying a radiant devācārya (divine preceptor) in a sage-lineage, the verse situates Linga-Purana teaching within an authenticated transmission (guru-paramparā), implying that Linga-upāsanā is safeguarded by enlightened seers under Shiva’s cosmic order (Pati).

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

Indirectly: the stress on ‘great radiance’ and divine instruction reflects Shiva-tattva as the source of tejas (spiritual luminosity) and right knowledge, through which Pashus (souls) are guided away from Pāśa (bondage) via dharmic lineages.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is prescribed in this verse; its takeaway is the authority of the teacher-sage tradition that underpins Shaiva observance—supporting disciplined upāsanā and yogic learning (including Pāśupata-oriented restraints) as received from qualified preceptors.