Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 63

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

Devanagari script

प्रसीद देवदेवेश त्वयि चाव्यभिचारिणी श्रद्धा चैव महादेव सान्निध्यं चैव सर्वदा

Transliteration

prasīda devadeveśa tvayi cāvyabhicāriṇī śraddhā caiva mahādeva sānnidhyaṃ caiva sarvadā

Translation

愿诸天之主垂怜。愿我心中生起对汝不退不移的信敬；噢，大天（Mahādeva），愿汝神圣的亲临——恒常安住的临在——时时与我同在。

Word by Word

• प्रसीद (prasīda): be pleased, show grace

• देवदेवेश (devadeveśa): Lord of the gods

• त्वयि (tvayi): in You, toward You

• च (ca): and

• अव्यभिचारिणी (avyabhicāriṇī): unfaltering, not deviating (steadfast)

• श्रद्धा (śraddhā): faith, trustful devotion

• एव (eva): indeed

• महादेव (mahādeva): Great God (Shiva)

• सान्निध्यम् (sānnidhyam): proximity, sacred presence

• सर्वदा (sarvadā): always

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a devotional supplication within the Linga Purana’s Shaiva teaching context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames linga-pūjā as more than external rite: the devotee seeks Shiva’s anugraha (grace), unwavering śraddhā, and constant sānnidhya—inner nearness to Pati—so the worship transforms the pashu (soul).

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

Shiva is addressed as Devadeveśa and Mahādeva, the supreme Pati whose presence can abide with the devotee; His nearness is not merely spatial but a sustaining, liberating reality that removes pasha (bondage) through grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key practice is avyabhicāriṇī-śraddhā—single-pointed, non-deviating devotion—central to Shaiva sādhanā and supportive of Pāśupata-oriented discipline, where inner steadfastness culminates in Shiva’s sānnidhya.