Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 126

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

अग्निवर्णाय रौद्राय अंबिकार्धशरीरिणे धवलश्यामरक्तानां मुक्तिदायामराय च

Transliteration

agnivarṇāya raudrāya aṃbikārdhaśarīriṇe dhavalaśyāmaraktānāṃ muktidāyāmarāya ca

Translation

Pagpupugay kay Rudra na kulay-apoy; pagpupugay sa marahas na Panginoon na ang kalahati ng Kanyang katawan ay si Ambikā (Śakti); at pagpupugay sa Walang-Kamatayan na nagbibigay ng mokṣa sa mga nilalang na may likas na puti, maitim, at pula.

Word by Word

• अग्निवर्णाय: to the fire-colored One

• रौद्राय: to Rudra, the fierce Lord

• अंबिकार्धशरीरिणे: to Him whose body is half Ambikā (the Goddess)

• धवलश्यामरक्तानाम्: of the white, dark, and red (types/temperaments of beings/guṇic dispositions)

• मुक्तिदाय: giver of liberation

• अमराय: to the Immortal (deathless Lord)

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a traditional Shiva-stuti within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Ambika (Parvati/Shakti)

FAQs

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

It functions as a stuti-name praising the Linga’s Lord as Pati (the liberating Master), emphasizing that sincere praise and devotion to Shiva in Linga-puja leads the bound pashu toward mukti.

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

Shiva is portrayed as Rudra (transformative, fiery consciousness) and as inseparable from Śakti (Ambikā), indicating the non-dual Shiva–Shakti unity through which bondage (pāśa) is dissolved and liberation is bestowed.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights stotra-japa (recitation of divine names) as a devotional limb allied to Pāśupata orientation—centering the mind on Pati beyond guṇic differences (white/dark/red) to attain freedom from pāśa.