Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 12

देवदारुवनौकसां प्रति ब्रह्मोपदेशः—लिङ्गलक्षण-प्रतिष्ठा-विधिः, शिवमायारूपदर्शनं, स्तुतिः

Devanagari script

अङ्गुष्ठमात्रं सुशुभं सुवृत्तं सर्वसंमतम् समनाभं तथाष्टास्रं षोडशास्रम् अथापि वा

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭhamātraṃ suśubhaṃ suvṛttaṃ sarvasaṃmatam samanābhaṃ tathāṣṭāsraṃ ṣoḍaśāsram athāpi vā

Translation

湿婆灵伽可作拇指之量，端严可喜，圆满周正，为众所许。其形当匀称，中有如脐之印；亦可制为八棱，乃至十六棱。

Word by Word

• अङ्गुष्ठमात्रम्: of thumb-measure

• सुशुभम्: very auspicious/beautiful

• सुवृत्तम्: perfectly round/well-formed

• सर्वसंमतम्: accepted by all (authorities/traditions)

• समनाभम्: having a central navel-like center/proportionate about the nave

• तथा: and also

• अष्टास्रम्: eight-cornered/eight-faceted

• षोडशास्रम्: sixteen-cornered/sixteen-faceted

• अथापि वा: or else/even alternatively

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja and linga-construction injunctions to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It standardizes acceptable measurements and geometries for the Śiva-liṅga, showing that even a small, thumb-sized liṅga is ritually complete and universally sanctioned for worship.

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

By allowing multiple forms (round, eight- or sixteen-faceted) while insisting on auspicious proportion, it points to Śiva as Pati—one reality approachable through varied, regulated symbols without changing the underlying tattva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It emphasizes puja-vidhi through correct iconometry (liṅga-lakṣaṇa); in Pāśupata terms, disciplined external worship supports the pashu’s purification from pāśa and steadies meditation on Pati.