Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 84

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

Devanagari script

गायत्रीप्रभवं मन्त्रं हरितं वश्यकारकम् चतुर्विंशतिवर्णाढ्यं चतुष्कलमनुत्तमम्

Transliteration

gāyatrīprabhavaṃ mantraṃ haritaṃ vaśyakārakam caturviṃśativarṇāḍhyaṃ catuṣkalamanuttamam

Translation

传授一则由伽耶特丽（Gāyatrī）所生的真言：呈青绿色，具vaśya（摄引、感召之神力）。此真言具足二十四音，含四种kalā，最为无上。

Word by Word

• गायत्री-प्रभवम्: arising from (derived from) Gāyatrī

• मन्त्रम्: mantra/sacred formula

• हरितम्: green-hued/associated with the green (harita) principle

• वश्य-कारकम्: producing vaśya (bringing under sacred influence/attraction)

• चतुर्विंशति-वर्ण-आढ्यम्: rich with twenty-four syllables/letters

• चतुष्-कलम्: having four kalās (quarters/powers)

• अनुत्तमम्: unsurpassed/supreme

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga tradition to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Liṅga-pūjā as mantra-centered: a Gāyatrī-derived formula with a defined syllable-structure (24) and fourfold potency (kalā) is presented as an unsurpassed support for concentrating devotion on Śiva as Pati.

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

By implying that the highest efficacy lies in turning consciousness toward Pati through mantra, it aligns with Śaiva Siddhānta’s view: Śiva-tattva is the supreme, unsurpassed reality, approached by disciplined upāsanā that loosens pāśa (bondage) upon the paśu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa and mantra-upāsanā in Liṅga-pūjā—using a metrically/phonemically defined formula (24 syllables) and meditating on its four kalās—serving as a Pāśupata-style method to steady the mind and intensify devotion.