Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Devanagari script

बाह्यं चाभ्यन्तरं प्रोक्तम् उत्तरायणदक्षिणे प्रत्यहं चरते तानि सूर्यो वै मण्डलानि तु

Transliteration

bāhyaṃ cābhyantaraṃ proktam uttarāyaṇadakṣiṇe pratyahaṃ carate tāni sūryo vai maṇḍalāni tu

Translation

太阳的运行轨道被宣说为二种：外与内，对应北行与南行（uttarāyaṇa、dakṣiṇāyaṇa）。日复一日，太阳确实循行这些圆轮之道。

Word by Word

• बाह्यम् (bāhyam): outer

• च (ca): and

• आभ्यन्तरम् (ābhyantaram): inner/within

• प्रोक्तम् (proktam): declared/taught

• उत्तरायण-दक्षिणे (uttarāyaṇa-dakṣiṇe): in the northern and southern courses

• प्रत्यहम् (pratyaham): every day

• चरते (carate): moves/traverses

• तानि (tāni): those

• सूर्यः (sūryaḥ): the Sun

• वै (vai): indeed

• मण्डलानि (maṇḍalāni): circles/orbits/spheres

• तु (tu): but/indeed (emphatic)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Surya

FAQs

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

By describing the Sun’s regulated daily movement through ordained orbits, the verse points to cosmic order (ṛta) as an expression of Shiva’s sovereignty (Pati); Linga worship aligns the devotee’s mind and ritual timing with these sacred cycles of time (kāla).

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

Though Surya is named, the underlying principle is Shiva-tattva as Kāla and Niyantṛ (the regulator): the Pati upholds fixed paths and rhythms, while pashus (souls) experience time’s flow within that divinely governed order.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It implicitly supports kāla-śuddhi and proper observance of auspicious timings—such as uttarāyaṇa/dakṣiṇāyaṇa considerations—for Shiva-puja, vrata, and disciplined yogic routine (niyama) within a Pāśupata-oriented life.