Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

लोकोत्तरस्फुटालोकस् त्र्यंबको नागभूषणः अन्धकारिर्मखद्वेषी विष्णुकन्धरपातनः

Transliteration

lokottarasphuṭālokas tryaṃbako nāgabhūṣaṇaḥ andhakārirmakhadveṣī viṣṇukandharapātanaḥ

Translation

Ngài là Đấng Siêu Việt, quang minh hiển lộ như ánh sáng trong suốt vượt ngoài mọi cõi; Tam Nhãn Chúa; Đấng trang nghiêm bằng rắn. Ngài là kẻ diệt Andhaka, là đối thủ của lòng kiêu mạn tế tự, và là Đấng khiến cổ của Vishnu phải khuất phục—làm nhục cả Đấng bảo tồn khi dharma bị che lấp.

Word by Word

• लोकोत्तर (lokottara): beyond the worlds, transcendent

• स्फुट (sphuṭa): manifest, clear

• आलोक (āloka): light, radiance

• त्र्यंबक (tryaṃbaka): the three-eyed Lord (Pati who sees past, present, future)

• नागभूषण (nāgabhūṣaṇa): adorned with serpents (mastery over fear, death, and kundalini-power)

• अन्धकारि (andhakāri): slayer of Andhaka (destroyer of tamas and egoic blindness)

• मखद्वेषी (makhadveṣī): hater of ‘makha’ (opposed to sacrifice when it becomes ego and violence

• विष्णुकन्धरपातन (viṣṇukandharapātana): the one who caused the fall/bending of Vishnu’s neck (subduer of pride

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Andhaka

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga as Shiva’s lokottara-āloka—transcendent, self-manifest light—so worship is not mere external rite but alignment of the pashu (soul) with Pati through purity, surrender, and inner illumination.

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

Shiva is presented as the clear radiance beyond the worlds and as Tryambaka, whose threefold vision governs time and karma; he destroys tamas (Andhaka) and corrects pasha through humbling pride in both ritual power (makha) and cosmic authority (even Vishnu).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to Pashupata-oriented sadhana: moving from outer sacrifice to inner yajna—disciplining ego, transforming tamas, and meditating on Shiva as the luminous Linga (āloka) while mastering fear and vital energy symbolized by the serpent-ornament.