Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

उशिकः कुशिकश्चैव गान्धारो मुनिसत्तमाः ऋषभश् च तथा षड्जो मज्जालीयश् च मध्यमः

Transliteration

uśikaḥ kuśikaścaiva gāndhāro munisattamāḥ ṛṣabhaś ca tathā ṣaḍjo majjālīyaś ca madhyamaḥ

Translation

在最殊胜的牟尼之中，有乌希迦（Uśika）、库希迦（Kuśika）与甘达罗（Gāndhāra）；同样还有利沙婆（Ṛṣabha）、沙陀迦（Ṣaḍja）、马迦阇利耶（Majjālīya）与摩陀耶摩（Madhyama）——这些卓越的圣见者，铭记于神圣传承之中，守护那引导 paśu（个体灵魂）趋向帕提、主宰湿婆（Śiva）的真知。

Word by Word

• उशिकः (uśikaḥ): Uśika (a sage)

• कुशिकः (kuśikaḥ): Kuśika (a sage)

• च (ca): and

• एव (eva): indeed

• गान्धारः (gāndhāraḥ): Gāndhāra (a sage/name)

• मुनिसत्तमाः (munisattamāḥ): best among sages

• ऋषभः (ṛṣabhaḥ): Ṛṣabha (a sage/name)

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• षड्जः (ṣaḍjaḥ): Ṣaḍja (a sage/name)

• मज्जालीयः (majjālīyaḥ): Majjālīya (a sage/name)

• च (ca): and

• मध्यमः (madhyamaḥ): Madhyama (a sage/name)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes the rishi-lineage that safeguards and transmits Śaiva revelation; Linga-worship is framed as received practice (āgama/paramparā), not mere invention—linking devotion and ritual to authoritative seers.

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

By placing these sages within the preservative lineage of sacred knowledge, the verse implies Śiva as Pati—the ultimate source and goal of teaching—toward whom the paśu is guided through right understanding and practice.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No single rite is specified; the emphasis is on paramparā as the vehicle for Pāśupata discipline—where mantra, vrata, and Linga-upāsanā are learned through recognized seers.