Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34

अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्य — काशी-वाराणसी में मोक्ष, लिङ्ग-तीर्थ-मानचित्र, और उपासना-विधि

Devanagari script

सम्पूज्य पूज्यं त्रिदशेश्वराणां सम्प्रेक्ष्य चोद्यानम् अतीव रम्यम् गणेश्वरैर् नन्दिमुखैश् च सार्धम् उवाच देवं प्रणिपत्य देवी

Transliteration

sampūjya pūjyaṃ tridaśeśvarāṇāṃ samprekṣya codyānam atīva ramyam gaṇeśvarair nandimukhaiś ca sārdham uvāca devaṃ praṇipatya devī

Translation

Matapos sambahin nang wasto ang Karapat-dapat sambahin, na sinasamba maging ng mga panginoon ng tatlumpu’t tatlong diyos, at matapos masdan ang lubhang kaaya-ayang harding banal, ang Diyosa—kasama ang mga Gaṇeśvara at si Nandimukha—ay yumukod at saka nagsalita sa Panginoon.

Word by Word

• सम्पूज्य: having worshipped fully

• पूज्यम्: the One worthy of worship

• त्रिदशेश्वराणाम्: of the lords of the thirty-three gods (Devas)

• सम्प्रेक्ष्य: having looked upon/observed

• चोद्यानम् (उद्यानम्): garden/pleasure-grove

• अतीव: exceedingly

• रम्यम्: delightful, beautiful

• गणेश्वरैः: with the chiefs of Shiva’s gaṇas

• नन्दिमुखैः: with Nandimukha (a gaṇa/attendant of Shiva)

• च: and

• सार्धम्: together with

• उवाच: spoke

• देवम्: to the Deva/Lord (Shiva)

• प्रणिपत्य: having bowed/prostrated

• देवी: the Goddess (Parvati/Shakti).

Speaker

Suta (narrating Devi’s action and speech in the internal story)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devi (Parvati/Shakti)
• Ganesvaras (Shiva’s Ganas)
• Nandimukha
• Devas (Tridasas)

FAQs

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

It establishes the proper puja-krama: first sampūjana (complete worship), then darśana (beholding the sacred space), then praṇipāta (prostration) before addressing Shiva—showing that approach to Pati begins with reverence and ritual purity.

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

By calling Him “pūjya” even for the tridaśeśvaras, the verse places Shiva beyond the Deva hierarchy—hinting at Shiva as Pati, the supreme Lord to whom even celestial rulers offer worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Praṇipāta (surrendering prostration) coupled with sampūjana reflects the Pāśupata orientation of humility and devotion—turning the pashu (individual soul) away from pride and toward Pati through disciplined reverence.