Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 30

Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 74 — ब्रह्मप्रोक्तलिङ्गार्चनविधिः

Materials, Classes, and Fruits of Linga-Worship

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामेव मर्त्यानां विभोर्दिव्यं वपुः शुभम् सकलं भावनायोग्यं योगिनामेव निष्कलम्

Transliteration

sarveṣāmeva martyānāṃ vibhordivyaṃ vapuḥ śubham sakalaṃ bhāvanāyogyaṃ yogināmeva niṣkalam

Translation

Para sa lahat ng mortal, ang banal at mapalad na anyo ng Panginoon ay nilalapitan bilang “sakala” (may bahagi), na angkop sa pagninilay at meditasyon; ngunit para sa mga Yogin lamang, ang Panginoong iyon ay natatanto bilang “niṣkala” (walang bahagi), lampas sa lahat ng naglilimita na katangian.

Word by Word

• सर्वेषाम् (sarveṣām): of all

• एव (eva): indeed

• मर्त्यानाम् (martyānām): of mortals

• विभोः (vibhoḥ): of the all-pervading Lord

• दिव्यम् (divyam): divine

• वपुः (vapuḥ): body/form

• शुभम् (śubham): auspicious

• सकलम् (sakalam): with parts/with attributes (saguṇa aspect)

• भावनायोग्यम् (bhāvanāyogyam): fit for contemplation/meditative visualization

• योगिनाम् (yoginām): for yogins

• एव (eva): alone/indeed

• निष्कलम् (niṣkalam): partless, attributeless (nirguṇa aspect)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-upāsanā as a bridge: devotees begin with the sakala (iconic, meditable) form of Pati (Shiva), and mature toward the niṣkala reality indicated by the Linga—beyond form yet present in all.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as twofold in approach: sakala for bhāvanā (devotional-yogic contemplation accessible to embodied pashus), and niṣkala for yogic realization where Pāśa (bondage) is transcended and Pati is known as attributeless consciousness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Bhāvanā (meditative visualization) on Shiva’s auspicious divine form is emphasized for practitioners, while advanced yogins pursue niṣkala-darśana—formless realization aligned with Pāśupata yoga’s inward dissolution of limitations.