Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 186

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

राज्यैश्वर्यं च विज्ञानं स्वर्गो निर्वाण एव च प्रोक्षणं चाभिषेकं च अघमर्षणमेव च

Transliteration

rājyaiśvaryaṃ ca vijñānaṃ svargo nirvāṇa eva ca prokṣaṇaṃ cābhiṣekaṃ ca aghamarṣaṇameva ca

Translation

Ang paghahari at marangal na kasaganaan, ang espirituwal na pag-unawa, ang langit, at maging ang paglaya (nirvāṇa); gayundin ang prokṣaṇa (pagwiwisik ng banal na tubig), abhiṣeka (banal na pagbubuhos/pagpapahid), at aghamarṣaṇa (paglilinis ng kasalanan)—ito ang ipinahahayag na mga bungang kaugnay ng pagsamba kay Śiva.

Word by Word

• rājya-aiśvaryam: royal sovereignty and prosperity

• ca: and

• vijñānam: higher knowledge/discernment

• svargaḥ: heaven

• nirvāṇam: liberation/extinction of bondage

• eva: indeed/even

• prokṣaṇam: consecratory sprinkling/purificatory aspersion

• abhiṣekam: sacred anointing (especially of the Liṅga)

• agha-marṣaṇam: removal/consumption of sin

• eva: indeed

• ca: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It functions as a phala-śruti: it links Liṅga-centered worship—especially prokṣaṇa and abhiṣeka—to concrete fruits ranging from worldly aiśvarya to sin-removal and ultimately nirvāṇa, showing Śiva as Pati who loosens the pashu’s pasha.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as the supreme bestower of both bhoga (svarga, prosperity, sovereignty) and mokṣa (nirvāṇa), indicating that the same Lord who grants auspicious outcomes also liberates the bound soul from impurity and bondage.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritually, it highlights prokṣaṇa (purificatory sprinkling) and abhiṣeka (Liṅga-anointing). Yogically, it implies inner aghamarṣaṇa—purification of the pashu through Śiva-bhakti that weakens pasha (karmic and mala-bound fetters).