Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125

अध्याय ९६: शरभ-प्रादुर्भावः, नृसिंह-दर्पशमनम्, विष्णोः शिवस्तुतिः, फलश्रुति

Devanagari script

पठेत्प्रतिष्ठाकालेषु शिवसन्निधिकारणम् चोरव्याघ्राहिसिंहान्तकृतो राजभयेषु च

Transliteration

paṭhetpratiṣṭhākāleṣu śivasannidhikāraṇam coravyāghrāhisiṃhāntakṛto rājabhayeṣu ca

Translation

Dapat itong bigkasin sa panahon ng pagtatatag ng Liṅga, sapagkat nagiging sanhi ito ng agarang pagdalo ni Śiva. Nagpapalayas din ito ng panganib mula sa magnanakaw, tigre, ahas, leon, kamatayan mismo, at maging ng takot na dulot ng mga hari o kapangyarihang makamundo.

Word by Word

• पठेत् (paṭhet): one should recite

• प्रतिष्ठाकालेषु (pratiṣṭhā-kāleṣu): at the times of installation/consecration

• शिव (śiva): Lord Śiva, the Pati

• सन्निधि (sannidhi): presence, nearness

• कारणम् (kāraṇam): cause, means

• चोर (cora): thief

• व्याघ्र (vyāghra): tiger

• अहि (ahi): serpent

• सिंह (siṁha): lion

• अन्तकृतः (antakṛtaḥ): death/terminator (as a fear, i.e., Yama or mortality)

• राजभयेषु (rāja-bhayeṣu): in fears from kings/rulers

• च (ca): and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Linga-pratiṣṭhā instructions to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames recitation during Liṅga-pratiṣṭhā as a direct means (kāraṇa) to invoke Śiva’s sannidhi—making the installation ritually “alive” with the Lord’s presence.

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

Śiva is presented as Pati whose presence dispels worldly pasha-like fears—threats from beings, death, and political power—showing His protective, sovereign grace when invoked through consecration.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra/śloka-japa at the time of pratiṣṭhā is highlighted; it functions as a protective rite and a devotion-centered practice aligning the pashu (soul) toward refuge in Śiva.