Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

जानातेर् ज्ञानम् इत्याहुर् भगवान् ज्ञानसंनिधिः बन्धनादिपरीभावाद् ईश्वरः प्रोच्यते बुधैः

Transliteration

jānāter jñānam ityāhur bhagavān jñānasaṃnidhiḥ bandhanādiparībhāvād īśvaraḥ procyate budhaiḥ

Translation

Ipinahahayag ng mga pantas na ang “kaalaman” ay yaong sa pamamagitan nito tunay na nakaaalam; ang Bhagavān ay ang mismong nananahan at laging presensya ng Kaalaman. Sapagkat nilalampasan at pinangingibabawan Niya ang pagkagapos at lahat ng naglilimita, ipinapahayag Siya ng mga marurunong bilang Īśvara—ang Pati, ang Kataas-taasang Panginoon.

Word by Word

• जानातेः (jānāteḥ): from the root ‘to know’

• ज्ञानम् (jñānam): knowledge, true knowing

• इति (iti): thus

• आहुः (āhuḥ): they say, they declare

• भगवान् (bhagavān): the Blessed Lord, the Supreme

• ज्ञान-संनिधिः (jñāna-saṃnidhiḥ): the immediate presence/abode of knowledge

• बन्धन-आदि (bandhana-ādi): bondage and the like (pāśa—bonds)

• परीभावात् (parībhāvāt): by surpassing, overpowering, standing beyond

• ईश्वरः (īśvaraḥ): Lord, sovereign controller (Pati)

• प्रोच्यते (procyate): is called, is proclaimed

• बुधैः (budhaiḥ): by the wise, by the learned

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva, worshipped as the Linga, as jñāna-saṃnidhi—the living presence of liberating knowledge—so Linga-pūjā is oriented toward release from pāśa (bondage), not merely worldly gain.

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

Shiva is presented as Īśvara/Pati: the sovereign who is intrinsically knowledge and who stands beyond and subdues bandhana and all limiting conditions that bind the paśu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes jñāna as the decisive means—supporting Pāśupata-oriented discipline where worship and inner contemplation aim at overcoming pāśa through Shiva-centered knowledge.