Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 56

सूर्यरथ-रचना, ध्रुव-प्रेरणा, मास-गणाः च

Jyotish-chakra: Surya’s Motion and Monthly Retinues

Devanagari script

धनञ्जय इरावांश् च सुरुचिः सपरावसुः घृताची चाप्सरःश्रेष्ठा विश्वाची चातिशोभना

Transliteration

dhanañjaya irāvāṃś ca suruciḥ saparāvasuḥ ghṛtācī cāpsaraḥśreṣṭhā viśvācī cātiśobhanā

Translation

檀难阇耶（Dhanañjaya）与伊罗梵（Irāvān），苏鲁支（Suruci）与萨帕罗婆苏（Saparāvasu）；又有酥油女（Ghṛtācī）——阿普萨拉中最胜者——以及极其辉耀的毗湿瓦支（Viśvācī）：此等皆列名于光显天众之中，随顺主之神圣法度而行。

Word by Word

• धनञ्जय (Dhanañjaya): Dhanañjaya (a celestial being by name)

• इरावान् (Irāvān): Irāvān (a celestial being by name)

• च (ca): and

• सुरुचिः (Suruciḥ): Suruci (a celestial being by name)

• सपरावसुः (Saparāvasuḥ): Saparāvasu (a celestial being by name)

• घृताची (Ghṛtācī): Ghṛtācī (an apsaras)

• च (ca): and

• अप्सरः-श्रेष्ठा (apsaraḥ-śreṣṭhā): the best/foremost among the apsarases

• विश्वाची (Viśvācī): Viśvācī (an apsaras)

• च (ca): and

• अतिशोभना (atiśobhanā): exceedingly beautiful, highly resplendent

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Dhanañjaya
• Irāvān
• Suruci
• Saparāvasu
• Ghṛtācī
• Viśvācī
• Apsarases
• Shiva

FAQs

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

By naming Shiva-aligned celestial beings and apsarases, the verse frames Linga worship as participation in Shiva’s cosmic order (Pati’s domain), where all ranks of beings honor the Lord.

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as sovereign governance: Pati is the center around whom divine assemblies and celestial functions are organized, indicating His lordship over manifested worlds and their inhabitants.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi is stated; the takeaway is the contemplative practice of smaraṇa (recollection) of Shiva’s cosmic entourage during Linga-puja, strengthening devotion and alignment with Pashupata reverence.