Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Upamanyu’s Tapas, Shiva’s Indra-Form Test, and the Bestowal of Kshiroda and Gaṇapatya

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे शिवताण्डवकथनं नाम षडधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः पुरोपमन्युना सूत गाणपत्यं महेश्वरात् क्षीरार्णवः कथं लब्धो वक्तुमर्हसि सांप्रतम्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge śivatāṇḍavakathanaṃ nāma ṣaḍadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ puropamanyunā sūta gāṇapatyaṃ maheśvarāt kṣīrārṇavaḥ kathaṃ labdho vaktumarhasi sāṃpratam

Translation

如是，在《圣灵伽大往世书》前分中，开启第一百零七章，名为“叙说湿婆檀陀婆之舞”。诸仙人说道：“噢，苏多啊，往昔乳海（Kṣīrārṇava）如何从大自在天（Maheśvara）得获‘伽那主’之位？请如今为我们宣说。”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

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

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrva-bhāga)

• śiva-tāṇḍava-kathanam: the narration of Śiva’s tāṇḍava (cosmic dance)

• nāma: named/called

• ṣaḍ-adhika-śatatamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the 107th chapter

• ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ: the sages said

• puraḥ: formerly/previously

• upamanyunā: by/through (the sage) Upamanyu (contextual reference)

• sūta: O Sūta

• gāṇapatyam: the state/office of being a gaṇa-leader (gaṇapati-hood)

• maheśvarāt: from Maheśvara (Śiva)

• kṣīrārṇavaḥ: Kṣīra-arṇava, the Ocean of Milk

• katham: how

• labdhaḥ: obtained

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

• sāṃpratam: now, at present

Speaker

Sages (Ṛṣis) addressing Sūta

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheśvara)
• Suta
• Sages (Ṛṣis)
• Upamanyu
• Kṣīrārṇava (Ocean of Milk)

FAQs

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

It frames the chapter as a Śaiva teaching-story (kathā) rooted in Maheśvara’s sovereignty (Pati), preparing the listener to understand how Shiva’s grace bestows spiritual authority—an idea central to Liṅga-upāsanā where the devotee seeks anugraha (grace) through worship.

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

Shiva is implied as Maheśvara, the supreme Lord (Pati) who can confer positions and powers; this reflects Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis that all attainments arise from Shiva’s śakti and anugraha, not merely from individual effort of the paśu (bound soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific ritual is prescribed in this opening verse; it functions as a narrative gateway. The implied practice is śravaṇa (reverent listening) to Śaiva kathā, which is treated as a supportive discipline for devotion and Pāśupata-oriented transformation.