Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 165

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

शूलटङ्कगदाचक्रकुन्तपाशधरं हरम् वरादभयहस्तं च द्वीपिचर्मोत्तरीयकम्

Transliteration

śūlaṭaṅkagadācakrakuntapāśadharaṃ haram varādabhayahastaṃ ca dvīpicarmottarīyakam

Translation

Magnilay sa Hara, ang Panginoon (Pati), na may tangan na may hawak na trident, palakol, pamalo, diskong chakrá, sibat, at lubid na panghuli; na ang mga kamay ay nagbibigay ng biyaya at kawalang‑takot; at nakabalabal ng pang-itaas na balat ng leopardo.

Word by Word

• शूल (śūla): trident

• टङ्क (ṭaṅka): axe/hatchet

• गदा (gadā): mace

• चक्र (cakra): discus

• कुन्त (kunta): spear

• पाश (pāśa): noose (bondage-binding power)

• धरम् (dharam): bearing/holding

• हरम् (haram): Hara, Shiva (the Remover)

• वरद (varada): boon-giving

• अभय (abhaya): fearlessness

• हस्त (hasta): hand

• द्वीपि (dvīpi): leopard

• चर्म (carma): skin/hide

• उत्तरीयकम् (uttarīyakam): upper garment/covering

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya, conveying a dhyana/visualization description used in Shiva worship)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Hara

FAQs

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

It provides a dhyana-lakshana (meditative iconography) for focusing the mind on Pati (Shiva) during Linga-upasana—seeing Him as the giver of grace (varada) and protector (abhaya), which stabilizes devotion and concentration in puja.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati: sovereign and compassionate, simultaneously wielding powers that restrain and liberate (pāśa) while granting fearlessness—signifying His mastery over bondage (pāśa) and His bestowal of anugraha (saving grace) to the pashu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Dhyana (icon-meditation) as part of Shiva-puja: visualizing Hara with specific attributes and mudras before worship, aligning the practitioner’s mind toward Pashupata-oriented inner discipline and surrender to the Lord.