Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

ध्यानयोगेन रुद्रदर्शनम् — रुद्रावतार-परिवर्तक्रमः, लकुली (कायावतार), पाशुपतयोगः, लिङ्गार्चन-निष्ठा

Devanagari script

तत्र शिष्याः शिखायुक्ता भविष्यन्ति तदा मम श्वेतः श्वेतशिखश्चैव श्वेतास्यः श्वेतलोहितः

Transliteration

tatra śiṣyāḥ śikhāyuktā bhaviṣyanti tadā mama śvetaḥ śvetaśikhaścaiva śvetāsyaḥ śvetalohitaḥ

Translation

在那里，于彼时，我的弟子皆将佩持圣髻（śikhā）。他们将被称为：室吠多（Śveta）、室吠多施佉（Śvetaśikha）、室吠多阿斯耶（Śvetāsya）与室吠多罗希多（Śvetalohita）——皆为湿婆传承之师，以清净与誓戒之行作标记，引导paśu归向Pati。

Word by Word

• tatra: there

• śiṣyāḥ: disciples

• śikhā-yuktāḥ: endowed with a śikhā (sacred tuft)

• bhaviṣyanti: will become / will be

• tadā: then

• mama: my

• śvetaḥ: Śveta (name/title, ‘white/pure’)

• śveta-śikhaḥ: Śvetśikha (name/title, ‘white tuft’)

• ca eva: and indeed

• śveta-āsyaḥ: Śvetāsya (name/title, ‘white-faced’)

• śveta-lohitaḥ: Śvetalohita (name/title, ‘white-and-red’, a revered Śaiva epithet/name).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account of Śaiva lineage; internal attribution to Śiva’s ordinance is implied by ‘mama’)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Śveta
• Śvetśikha
• Śvetāsya
• Śvetalohita

FAQs

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

It situates Linga-worship within an authorized Śaiva disciplic succession: the Lord’s devotees are not merely ritualists, but initiated disciples (śiṣya) under named teachers, preserving correct mantra, vrata, and pūjā.

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

By saying “my disciples,” the verse emphasizes Śiva as Pati—the sovereign source of grace and authority—who establishes lineages that purify the paśu and loosen pāśa through regulated discipline and right knowledge.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The śikhā as an external sign of vrata and initiation is highlighted—pointing to dīkṣā-based Śaiva observance aligned with Pāśupata discipline rather than casual devotion.