Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 129

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

प्रभुर्लोकहितार्थाय दंष्ट्रयाभ्युज्जहार गाम् ततः स्वस्थानमानीय पृथिवीं पृथिवीधरः

Transliteration

prabhurlokahitārthāya daṃṣṭrayābhyujjahāra gām tataḥ svasthānamānīya pṛthivīṃ pṛthivīdharaḥ

Translation

Para sa kapakanan ng mga daigdig, iniahon ng Kataas-taasang Panginoon ang Daigdig sa pamamagitan ng Kanyang pangil; saka bilang Tagapagdala ng Daigdig, ibinalik Niya si Pṛthivī at muling itinatag sa kanyang sariling kinalalagyan.

Word by Word

• प्रभुः: the Lord (Pati, Supreme Ruler)

• लोक-हित-अर्थाय: for the purpose of the welfare of the worlds

• दंष्ट्रया: with (His) tusk

• अभ्युज्जहार: lifted up, raised forth

• गाम्: the Earth (Gā, Bhū)

• ततः: then

• स्व-स्थानम्: her own place, proper station

• आनीय: having brought (back)

• पृथिवीम्: the earth, Pṛthivī

• पृथिवी-धरः: the Earth-bearer, supporter of the earth

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Pati—the supreme upholder who restores stability (dharma). Linga worship internalizes this truth: by centering consciousness on the Linga, the devotee aligns the world within (microcosm) with the Lord’s restoring power (macrocosm).

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as sovereign compassion and governance: the Lord acts “for the welfare of the worlds,” lifting and re-establishing the earth—symbolizing Pati freeing order from chaos and loosening the bonds (pāśa) that overwhelm pashu (the embodied soul/world).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is protective surrender (śaraṇāgati) and dhāraṇā: steadiness of mind like the earth being set in its place. In Pashupata-oriented practice, the devotee fixes awareness on Mahadeva as the stabilizing support (dhara) who removes upheaval and re-establishes inner order.