Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 40

Adhyaya 17: लिङ्गोद्भव—ब्रह्मविष्ण्वहङ्कार-शमनं, ओंकार-प्रादुर्भावः, मन्त्र-तत्त्वं च

Devanagari script

मनो ऽनिलजवो भूत्वा गतो ऽहं चोर्ध्वतः सुराः नारायणो ऽपि विश्वात्मा नीलाञ्जनचयोपमम्

Transliteration

mano 'nilajavo bhūtvā gato 'haṃ cordhvataḥ surāḥ nārāyaṇo 'pi viśvātmā nīlāñjanacayopamam

Translation

我化作如意念般迅疾、如风般飞驰，与诸天一同上升。即使那罗延——宇宙内在之我——也见到那真实，宛如无量深黑的安阇那（眼膏）巨团：不可测、不可穷、不可企及的灵伽圣相。

Word by Word

• manas: mind/thought

• anila-javaḥ: wind-swift

• bhūtvā: having become

• gataḥ: gone

• aham: I

• ca: and

• ūrdhvataḥ: upward

• surāḥ: the gods

• nārāyaṇaḥ api: even Nārāyaṇa

• viśva-ātmā: the Self of the universe

• nīla-añjana-caya-upamam: comparable to a mass/heap of dark collyrium (deep blue-black radiance)

Speaker

Brahma (within Suta’s narration to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu (Narayana)
• Devas
• Shiva (implied as the Linga/Sign)

FAQs

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

It frames the Liṅga as the limitless sign of Pati (Śiva): even the highest gods, moving with mind-and-wind speed, cannot reach its measure—so worship centers on reverence for the immeasurable rather than attempting to “grasp” the Absolute.

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

Śiva-tattva is indicated as ananta (without end) and atīndriya (beyond senses and mind): the dark, dense radiance like nīlāñjana suggests the transcendent, ungraspable Reality in which the universe is grounded.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Yogic implication is the need to transcend manas (mind) and prāṇa-like velocity (anila-java) through Pāśupata-oriented inwardness—shifting from outward pursuit to contemplative surrender before the Liṅga as Pati.