Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 70

अध्याय ८२ — व्यपोहनस्तवः (पापव्यपोहन-स्तोत्रम्)

Devanagari script

भूतानां मातरः सर्वा यत्र या गणमातरः प्रसादाद्देवदेवस्य व्यपोहन्तु मलं मम

Transliteration

bhūtānāṃ mātaraḥ sarvā yatra yā gaṇamātaraḥ prasādāddevadevasya vyapohantu malaṃ mama

Translation

Nawa’y ang lahat ng mga Ina ng mga nilalang—anumang Gaṇa-Mātṛ na nananahan sa bawat dako—sa biyaya ng Diyos ng mga diyos, ay lubusang mag-alis ng aking mala (dungis).

Word by Word

• bhūtānām: of beings/creatures

• mātaraḥ: Mothers (divine maternal powers)

• sarvāḥ: all

• yatra yā: wherever, whichever

• gaṇa-mātaraḥ: Mothers of Śiva’s Gaṇas/attendant host

• prasādāt: by grace, through favor

• deva-devasya: of the Deva of devas (Mahādeva)

• vyapohantu: may they drive away/remove

• malam: impurity, defilement (mala)

• mama: my

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating a purificatory invocation within the Śaiva rite context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Gaṇamātṛkās (Gaṇa-Mothers)
• Bhūtas (beings)

FAQs

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

It functions as a śuddhi-prārthanā (purification prayer): the devotee seeks removal of mala (inner impurity) through Śiva’s prasāda, aligning the pashu (individual soul) for effective liṅga-pūjā.

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

Śiva appears as Deva-deva, the supreme Pati whose anugraha alone empowers divine śaktis (the Mothers) to dissolve mala—showing that liberation begins with grace, not mere effort.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A ritual invocation to the Mātṛkā-śaktis associated with Śiva’s gaṇas for mala-nivṛtti—used as preparatory purification before worship, japa, or Pāśupata-oriented discipline.