ध्यानयोगेन रुद्रदर्शनम् — रुद्रावतार-परिवर्तक्रमः, लकुली (कायावतार), पाशुपतयोगः, लिङ्गार्चन-निष्ठा
इत्येतद्वै मया प्रोक्तम् अवतारेषु लक्षणम् मन्वादिकृष्णपर्यन्तम् अष्टाविंशद् युगक्रमात्
ityetadvai mayā proktam avatāreṣu lakṣaṇam manvādikṛṣṇaparyantam aṣṭāviṃśad yugakramāt
如是,我已宣说(湿婆)诸化身之界相特征:依诸劫期之次第,二十八番相续,自摩奴起,至奎师那而终。
Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana discourse to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It frames the avatāra-teaching as a structured, yuga-wise revelation of Śiva’s guidance, supporting the Linga as the stable sign (liṅga) of Pati through changing ages and practices.
Śiva-tattva is implied as the governing Pati who manifests appropriate avatāra-lakṣaṇas across time to protect dharma and lead the pashu (bound soul) beyond pāśa (bondage).
Rather than a single rite, it highlights the principle of yuga-appropriate sādhana—often expressed in the Linga Purana through Linga-pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented discipline as Śiva’s method for liberation.