Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

स्वेच्छाविग्रहसंभव-प्रतिष्ठाफलवर्णनम् (विविधशिवमूर्तिप्रतिष्ठा, लोक-फल, शिवसायुज्य)

Devanagari script

गङ्गया सहितं चैव वामोत्सङ्गे ऽंबिकान्वितम् विनायकं तथा स्कन्दं ज्येष्ठं दुर्गां सुशोभनाम्

Transliteration

gaṅgayā sahitaṃ caiva vāmotsaṅge 'ṃbikānvitam vināyakaṃ tathā skandaṃ jyeṣṭhaṃ durgāṃ suśobhanām

Translation

At nakita niya (ang Panginoon) na kasama si Gaṅgā; si Ambikā ay nasa Kanyang kaliwang kandungan—kasama sina Vināyaka at Skanda, gayundin si Jyeṣṭhā at ang maringal na Durgā. Ito ang pangitain kay Śiva bilang Pati, na sa sambahayan ng mga śakti at mga kasama ay inihahayag ang Kanyang kapangyarihang sumasaklaw at sumusuporta sa mga daigdig.

Word by Word

• गङ्गया (gaṅgayā): with Gaṅgā

• सहितम् (sahitam): accompanied

• च एव (caiva): and indeed

• वाम-उत्सङ्गे (vāma-utsaṅge): on the left lap/left side embrace

• अम्बिका-अन्वितम् (ambikā-anvitam): attended by/with Ambikā (Pārvatī)

• विनायकम् (vināyakam): Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• स्कन्दम् (skandam): Skanda (Kārttikeya)

• ज्येष्ठम् (jyeṣṭham): Jyeṣṭhā (the elder/Alakṣmī deity)

• दुर्गाम् (durgām): Durgā

• सु-शोभनाम् (su-śobhanām): very beautiful, splendid.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya; describing a divine vision within the narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Ganga
• Ambika (Parvati)
• Vinayaka (Ganesha)
• Skanda (Kartikeya)
• Jyeshtha
• Durga
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva as Pati (the Lord of all), surrounded by His śaktis and divine attendants; in Liṅga-pūjā this supports worship of the Liṅga as the one reality from whom these powers and forms radiate and by whom they are governed.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as sovereign and complete: the transcendent Lord who also manifests immanently as family, śakti, and protective powers—guiding paśus (souls) beyond pāśa (bondage) through His grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A dhyāna (contemplative visualization) practice is implied—meditating on Śiva with Gaṅgā and Ambikā and His retinue—used in Śaiva pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented sādhana to steady the mind and orient it toward Pati.