Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 27

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

Devanagari script

पर्यायवाचकैः शब्दैस् तत्त्वम् आद्यम् अनुत्तमम् व्याख्यातं तत्त्वभावज्ञैर् देवसद्भावचेतकैः

Transliteration

paryāyavācakaiḥ śabdais tattvam ādyam anuttamam vyākhyātaṃ tattvabhāvajñair devasadbhāvacetakaiḥ

Translation

Sa pamamagitan ng mga salitang magkasingkahulugan, ipinaliwanag ng mga nakakabatid sa tunay na kalikasan ng tattva ang sinauna at walang kapantay na Prinsipyo. Ang kanilang isipan ay nakatuon sa banal na katotohanan, upang maunawaan si Śiva, ang Pati, lampas sa mga pangalan lamang.

Word by Word

• पर्यायवाचकैः (paryāyavācakaiḥ): by synonym-expressing

• शब्दैः (śabdaiḥ): by words/terms

• तत्त्वम् (tattvam): the principle/reality (Shiva-tattva)

• आद्यम् (ādyam): primordial/first

• अनुत्तमम् (anuttamam): unsurpassed/supreme

• व्याख्यातम् (vyākhyātam): explained/expounded

• तत्त्वभावज्ञैः (tattvabhāvajñaiḥ): by knowers of the true state/essence of tattva

• देवसद्भावचेतकैः (devasadbhāvacetakaiḥ): by those whose consciousness is set on divine goodness/truth (god-intent minds).

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Linga worship is rooted in right understanding: the Supreme Shiva-tattva is taught through many synonymous names, guiding the devotee from outer designation (nāma) to inner realization of Pati.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as ādi (primordial) and anuttama (unsurpassed), knowable not by one label but through many epithets interpreted by tattva-knowers whose awareness is aligned with divine truth.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It points to tattva-vicāra (discriminative contemplation) as the inner discipline supporting puja and japa—using names and attributes as aids to realize Pati beyond pasha-bound cognition of the pashu.