Shloka 1

ईशानकल्पवृत्तान्तः तथा लैङ्गपुराणस्य संक्षेप-सूची

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलैङ्गे महापुराणे प्रथमो ऽध्यायः सूत उवाच ईशानकल्पवृत्तान्तम् अधिकृत्य महात्मना ब्रह्मणा कल्पितं पूर्वं पुराणं लैङ्गम् उत्तमम्

Transliteration

iti śrīlaiṅge mahāpurāṇe prathamo 'dhyāyaḥ sūta uvāca īśānakalpavṛttāntam adhikṛtya mahātmanā brahmaṇā kalpitaṃ pūrvaṃ purāṇaṃ laiṅgam uttamam

Translation

如是，在尊贵的《林伽摩诃补罗那》中，第一章告终。苏多曰：往昔，大心的梵天以“伊沙那劫”（Īśāna-kalpa）之事为宗，撰成至上的《林伽补罗那》——宣示主宰（Pati）：凭借湿婆实性（Śiva-tattva）及其神圣标志林伽（Liṅga），解脱被缚之灵（paśu）脱离系缚（pāśa）。

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-laiṅge mahāpurāṇe: in the auspicious Linga Mahāpurāṇa

• prathamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the first chapter

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• īśāna-kalpa-vṛttāntam: the narrative/account of the Īśāna-kalpa

• adhikṛtya: taking as the subject/focusing upon

• mahātmanā brahmaṇā: by the great-souled Brahmā

• kalpitam: composed/arranged

• pūrvam: formerly/earlier

• purāṇam laiṅgam: the Linga Purāṇa

• uttamam: supreme/excellent

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Brahma
• Ishana (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga Purana as a Brahmā-composed śāstra centered on the Īśāna-kalpa, establishing the Liṅga as the authoritative emblem through which Śiva (Pati) is approached for grace and liberation.

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

By naming Īśāna as the governing theme, it points to Śiva as the supreme Lord and ruler—Pati—whose revelation becomes the basis of the Purāṇa’s teaching on bondage (pāśa) and the soul (paśu).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No single rite is specified in this verse, but it signals the text’s orientation toward Liṅga-upāsanā and the Pāśupata path—devotion and discipline directed to Īśāna for removing pāśa and granting mokṣa.