Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 119

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

आपो नाराश् च सूनव इत्यपां नाम शुश्रुमः आपूर्य ताभिर् अयनं कृतवानात्मनो यतः

Transliteration

āpo nārāś ca sūnava ityapāṃ nāma śuśrumaḥ āpūrya tābhir ayanaṃ kṛtavānātmano yataḥ

Translation

Chúng ta từng nghe rằng “Nước” được gọi là “những người con của Nara”. Khi làm cho cõi bao la vũ trụ đầy tràn bởi những dòng nước ấy, Chúa Tể lấy chính chúng làm nơi an nghỉ (ayana) của mình; vì thế Ngài được gọi là Nārāyaṇa.

Word by Word

• āpaḥ: waters (primordial cosmic waters)

• nārāḥ: the ‘Naras’, here understood as waters/offspring of Nara

• ca: and

• sūnavaḥ: sons, progeny

• iti: thus

• apām: of the waters

• nāma: name, designation

• śuśrumaḥ: we have heard (traditional revelation)

• āpūrya: having filled, pervading completely

• tābhiḥ: by/with those (waters)

• ayanam: resting-place, abode, couch

• kṛtavān: made, established

• ātmanaḥ: for Himself, of His own being

• yataḥ: because, from which reason.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic etymology within the cosmogonic account)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Nara
• Apah (Primordial Waters)

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga-pūjā in cosmogony: the primordial waters (āpaḥ) are the first field of manifestation, and water-offerings (jala, abhiṣeka) become a symbolic return of the tattvas to the Supreme—Pati—who supports and pervades them.

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

Though the verse names Nārāyaṇa via the waters-as-abode motif, the Shaiva reading places Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati who makes the elements His “ayana” without being bound by them—remaining sovereign over pasha (bondage) and the evolving cosmos.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Water as a purifier is implied: abhiṣeka (ritual bathing of the Liṅga) and ācamana-like inner purification align with Pāśupata discipline—cleansing pasha so the pashu (soul) can recollect the Pati.