Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 9

विष्णुरुवाच—एकाक्षर-प्रणव-लिङ्ग-व्याप्ति-शिवस्तोत्रम्

Devanagari script

शब्दस्पर्शस्वरूपाय रसगन्धाय गन्धिने गणाधिपतये तुभ्यं गुह्याद्गुह्यतमाय ते

Transliteration

śabdasparśasvarūpāya rasagandhāya gandhine gaṇādhipataye tubhyaṃ guhyādguhyatamāya te

Translation

顶礼于您——以声与触为自性者；为味与香之精髓者；即是芬芳本身者；为众伽那之主（Gaṇādhipati）者；亦为诸秘之中最深秘者。

Word by Word

• शब्द (śabda): sound

• स्पर्श (sparśa): touch

• स्वरूपाय (svarūpāya): to the One whose essential nature is

• रस (rasa): taste/essence

• गन्धाय (gandhāya): to fragrance/scent

• गन्धिने (gandhine): to the fragrant One/possessor of scent

• गणाधिपतये (gaṇādhipataye): to the Lord of the Gaṇas (Gaṇeśa/Śiva as Gaṇādhipati)

• तुभ्यं (tubhyaṃ): to You

• गुह्यात् (guhyāt): than the secret

• गुह्यतमाय (guhyatamāya): to the most secret

• ते (te): to You/your.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shaiva stuti within the Linga Purana’s discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It frames the Liṅga as the immanent Pati who pervades the subtle bases of perception (sound, touch, taste, fragrance), guiding the devotee from sensory experience toward the hidden, transcendent Shiva.

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

Shiva is presented as both the inner essence of the tanmātras (the subtle principles behind the senses) and as “guhyāt guhyatama”—beyond all grasping, the supremely secret Reality that liberates the paśu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative upāsanā aligned with Pāśupata Yoga: meditating on Shiva as the substratum of sensory principles, offering the senses back into the Liṅga to loosen bondage (pāśa) and recognize Pati.