Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

विनायकोत्पत्तिः / ताण्डव-प्रसङ्गः (दारुक-वधः, काली-उत्पत्तिः, क्षेत्रपालोत्पत्तिः)

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे विनायकोत्पत्तिर्नाम पञ्चाधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः नृत्यारम्भः कथं शंभोः किमर्थं वा यथातथम् वक्तुमर्हसि चास्माकं श्रुतः स्कन्दाग्रजोद्भवः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge vināyakotpattirnāma pañcādhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ nṛtyārambhaḥ kathaṃ śaṃbhoḥ kimarthaṃ vā yathātatham vaktumarhasi cāsmākaṃ śrutaḥ skandāgrajodbhavaḥ

Translation

如是，在《圣林伽大往世书》前分中，开启名为“毗那耶迦之起源”的第一百零六章。诸仙人说道：“噢，商婆（湿婆）啊，您如何开始圣舞？又为着何种目的——请如实为我等宣说。我们已闻天军神斯甘达之长兄（毗那耶迦）的显现，因此恳请为我等开示。”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

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

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

• vināyaka-utpatti-nāma: named ‘Origin of Vināyaka’

• pañcādhika-śatatamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the 106th chapter

• ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ: the sages said

• nṛtya-ārambhaḥ: the commencement of the dance

• katham: how

• śaṃbhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)

• kim-artham vā: and for what purpose

• yathā-tatham: just as it truly happened

• vaktum arhasi: you are fit to tell / please explain

• ca asmākam: and to us

• śrutaḥ: (it is) heard / we have heard

• skanda-agraja-udbhavaḥ: the arising/birth of Skanda’s elder (Vināyaka)

Speaker

Rishis (Sages of Naimisharanya), addressing Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shambhu)
• Vinayaka (Ganapati)
• Skanda

FAQs

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

It frames the next teaching as a sacred inquiry into Śiva’s cosmic activity (dance) and the arising of Vināyaka—both understood as expressions of Pati (Śiva) guiding and removing obstacles for the pashu (bound soul) on the path of worship.

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

Śiva is implied as Śambhu, the auspicious Lord whose actions are purposeful and exact; His dance is not mere performance but a deliberate cosmic function through which grace and order operate.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is prescribed in this opening verse; it sets up the doctrinal context where Śiva’s dance and Vināyaka’s manifestation are read as supports to sādhana—especially obstacle-removal and right orientation for Pāśupata-aligned worship.