Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

तथैव जातं नयनं ललाटे सितांशुलेखा च शिरस्युदग्रा कण्ठे करालं निशितं त्रिशूलं करे करालं च विभूषणानि

Transliteration

tathaiva jātaṃ nayanaṃ lalāṭe sitāṃśulekhā ca śirasyudagrā kaṇṭhe karālaṃ niśitaṃ triśūlaṃ kare karālaṃ ca vibhūṣaṇāni

Translation

同样地，额上显现一目；头顶出现高扬如白月之光的纹线。喉间生起可怖而锋利的三叉戟；手中亦现威严骇人的庄严饰物——此皆为主宰“帕提”(湿婆)之标志，超越一切系缚（pāśa）之至上统御者。

Word by Word

• तथैव: in that very manner/just so

• जातम्: was born/manifested

• नयनम्: eye

• ललाटे: on the forehead

• सितांशु-लेखा: a streak/line of the white moon (moonlike mark)

• च: and

• शिरसि: on the head

• उदग्रा: lofty, prominent, exalted

• कण्ठे: at the throat/neck

• करालम्: fearsome, formidable

• निशितम्: sharpened, keen

• त्रिशूलम्: trident

• करे: in the hand

• करालम्: terrifying, awe-inspiring

• च: and

• विभूषणानि: ornaments, adornments, insignia of majesty

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya, reporting the description of Shiva’s manifested marks)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links Linga-upasana to Shiva’s recognizable lakshanas—especially the third eye, moon-mark, and trishula—so the worshipper contemplates the Linga not as a mere emblem but as Pati (Shiva) manifesting protective and liberating powers.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as self-manifesting and sovereign: the third eye signifies jnana and dissolution of avidya; the moon-mark signifies cool, auspicious grace; the trishula signifies mastery over the threefold bonds and states—affirming Shiva as Pashupati who transcends pasha and uplifts the pashu.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports dhyana in Shiva-puja: meditating on the third eye, chandralekha, and trishula as inner yogic symbols—awakening jnana (forehead-eye contemplation) and cultivating Pashupata-bhava, surrendering bondage (pasha) to the Lord (Pati).