Shloka 1

Devas Praise Śiva; Gaṇeśa Manifests as Vighneśvara and Receives the Primacy of Worship

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे देवस्तुतिर्नाम चतुरधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच यदा स्थिताः सुरेश्वराः प्रणम्य चैवमीश्वरम् तदांबिकापतिर् भवः पिनाकधृङ् महेश्वरः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge devastutirnāma caturadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca yadā sthitāḥ sureśvarāḥ praṇamya caivamīśvaram tadāṃbikāpatir bhavaḥ pinākadhṛṅ maheśvaraḥ

Translation

如是，在《圣林伽大往世书》前分中，开启名为“诸天赞颂”的第一百零五章。苏多说道：当诸天之主如是站立，恭敬顶礼于自在天（Īśvara）时，婆伐（Bhava）——大天（Mahādeva）、执持毗那迦弓（Pināka）、安毗迦（Ambikā，Śakti）之主——便在他们前显现为至上之主（Pati），解开众生之魂（paśu）所系缚之绳索（pāśa）。

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the auspicious Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrvabhāga)

• deva-stutiḥ-nāma: named “Hymn of the Devas”

• catur-adhika-śatatamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the 105th chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• yadā: when

• sthitāḥ: stood/assembled

• sura-īśvarāḥ: the lords among the devas

• praṇamya: having bowed/prostrated

• ca: and

• evam: thus

• īśvaram: to the Lord (Īśvara)

• tadā: then

• ambikā-patiḥ: the Lord/consort of Ambikā (Śakti/Umā)

• bhavaḥ: Bhava (Śiva)

• pināka-dhṛk: bearer of the Pināka bow

• maheśvaraḥ: Mahā-īśvara, the Great Lord

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maheshvara
• Bhava
• Ambika (Shakti/Parvati)
• Devas

FAQs

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

It frames the Devas’ reverent approach (praṇāma and stuti) as the doorway by which Īśvara becomes manifest—implying that humble devotion and recognition of Śiva as Pati are foundational to Liṅga-upāsanā.

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

Śiva is presented as Īśvara/Maheśvara—Bhava, the supreme Lord (Pati), inseparable from Śakti as Ambikāpati, and the One whose presence responds to the Devas’ surrender, indicating His sovereignty and grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Praṇāma (prostration) and stuti (hymnic praise) are highlighted as core devotional disciplines that align the paśu toward the Pati—serving as a preparatory limb for Śaiva worship and Pāśupata-oriented inner surrender.