Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 1

Adhyaya 4: अहोरात्र-युग-मन्वन्तर-कल्पमान तथा प्रलयान्ते सृष्ट्युपक्रमः

Devanagari script

सूत उवाच अथ प्राथमिकस्येह यः कालस्तदहः स्मृतम् सर्गस्य तादृशी रात्रिः प्राकृतस्य समासतः

Transliteration

sūta uvāca atha prāthamikasyeha yaḥ kālastadahaḥ smṛtam sargasya tādṛśī rātriḥ prākṛtasya samāsataḥ

Translation

苏多（Sūta）说道：在此，属于初始阶段的那段时间被称为其“昼”。概而言之，与之相等的一段时间也称为普拉克利提（prākṛta）创造的“夜”。

Word by Word

• sūta uvāca: Sūta said

• atha: now/then

• prāthamikasya: of the primordial/initial (phase)

• iha: here (in this teaching)

• yaḥ: which

• kālaḥ: time-period

• tat: that

• ahaḥ: day

• smṛtam: is remembered/defined

• sargasya: of creation/emission

• tādṛśī: of that same measure/similar

• rātriḥ: night

• prākṛtasya: of primordial nature (prakṛti-based)

• samāsataḥ: in brief/in summary

Speaker

Suta

Characters & Entities

• Suta

FAQs

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

It frames creation as governed by measurable cycles of “day” and “night,” preparing the devotee to see Linga-worship as aligning the pashu (individual soul) with the cosmic order sustained by Pati (Shiva), who presides over kāla.

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

By defining prākṛta creation in terms of time-cycles, it implies Shiva-tattva as the sovereign principle who regulates and transcends these cycles—Pati is not merely within prakṛti’s rhythms but the lord of their unfolding.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is prescribed in this verse; the takeaway is contemplative discipline: in Pāśupata-oriented practice, one meditates on kāla and its limits, turning from prākṛta cycles (bondage/pāśa) toward the timeless Pati through Linga-upāsanā.