Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya

Devanagari script

पिता तव महादेवः पिता वै जगतां मुने माता तव महाभागा जगन्माता न संशयः

Transliteration

pitā tava mahādevaḥ pitā vai jagatāṃ mune mātā tava mahābhāgā jaganmātā na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Hỡi bậc hiền triết, Mahādeva là cha của ngài—quả thật là Cha của muôn thế giới. Và người Mẹ phước đức của ngài chính là Mẹ của toàn thể vũ trụ; không còn nghi ngờ gì nữa.

Word by Word

• पिता (pitā): father

• तव (tava): your

• महादेवः (mahādevaḥ): Mahādeva (Śiva)

• पिता वै (pitā vai): indeed the father

• जगताम् (jagatām): of the worlds

• मुने (mune): O sage

• माता (mātā): mother

• तव (tava): your

• महाभागा (mahābhāgā): greatly fortunate, auspicious lady

• जगन्माता (jaganmātā): Mother of the universe (Śakti/Devī)

• न (na): not

• संशयः (saṃśayaḥ): doubt

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal Purāṇic dialogue; this line is spoken by an elder/knower addressing a sage as 'mune')

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahadeva)
• Devi (Jagatmata/Shakti)

FAQs

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

It establishes the theological basis for Linga-pūjā: the Linga signifies Pati (Mahādeva) as the universal source, while worship is fulfilled through Śakti, the Jagat-mātā—devotion becomes reverence to the cosmic Parents.

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

Śiva is affirmed as Jagat-pitā—Pati, the supreme Lord who stands as the originating and sustaining principle for all worlds and all beings (paśus), beyond personal lineage and limited identity.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The implied practice is Pāśupata-bhāva in worship: approaching the Linga with the understanding of Śiva as Pati and Devī as Jagat-mātā, cultivating surrender (śaraṇāgati) and devotion rather than mere external ritual.