Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 159

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

रसो रसज्ञः सर्वज्ञः सर्वसत्त्वावलंबनः सूत उवाच एवं नाम्नां सहस्रेण तुष्टाव वृषभध्वजम्

Transliteration

raso rasajñaḥ sarvajñaḥ sarvasattvāvalaṃbanaḥ sūta uvāca evaṃ nāmnāṃ sahasreṇa tuṣṭāva vṛṣabhadhvajam

Translation

Siya ang Rasa, ang mismong Esensya; ang Nakaaalam ng lahat ng esensya; ang Ganap na Nakaaalam; ang sandigan ng lahat ng nilalang. Wika ni Sūta: Sa gayon, sa pamamagitan ng isang libong pangalan, kanyang pinuri ang Panginoong may bandilang toro (Śiva).

Word by Word

• रसो (rasaḥ): essence, savor, spiritual relish

• रसज्ञः (rasajñaḥ): knower of essence/experience, the one who truly knows rasa

• सर्वज्ञः (sarvajñaḥ): omniscient, all-knowing Pati

• सर्वसत्त्वावलंबनः (sarva-sattvāvalambanaḥ): support/refuge of all beings (pashus)

• सूत उवाच (sūta uvāca): Sūta said

• एवं (evaṁ): thus, in this manner

• नाम्नां (nāmnām): of names

• सहस्रेण (sahasreṇa): by/with a thousand

• तुष्टाव (tuṣṭāva): praised, extolled

• वृषभध्वजम् (vṛṣabhadhvajam): the one whose banner bears the bull (Śiva).

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva as the living spiritual Essence (rasa) and the refuge of all beings, making Linga-worship not merely symbolic but an approach to the Pati who sustains and liberates the pashu from pāśa.

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

Śiva-tattva is presented as omniscient consciousness (sarvajña) and as the inner savor/essence of all experience (rasa), while simultaneously being the ground-support of all embodied beings (sarva-sattvāvalambana).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights nāma-japa and stotra-recitation (Sahasranāma) as a bhakti-based discipline aligned with Pāśupata orientation—turning awareness toward the omniscient Pati who supports all pashus.