Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

सूर्यरथनिर्णयः (चन्द्रस्य पक्षवृद्धिक्षयविधानम्)

Devanagari script

एकरात्रिं सुराः सर्वे पितृभिस्त्वृषिभिः सह सोमस्य कृष्णपक्षादौ भास्कराभिमुखस्य च

Transliteration

ekarātriṃ surāḥ sarve pitṛbhistvṛṣibhiḥ saha somasya kṛṣṇapakṣādau bhāskarābhimukhasya ca

Translation

在月之黑半月初始之际，一切天神与祖灵（Pitṛ）及圣仙（Ṛṣi）同在，面向太阳修持一夜之仪，作为契合由主宰帕提（湿婆）所护持之宇宙秩序的清净奉献。

Word by Word

• ekarātrim: for one night

• surāḥ sarve: all the Devas

• pitṛbhiḥ: with the ancestors (Pitṛs)

• tu: indeed/and

• ṛṣibhiḥ: with the seers

• saha: together with

• somasya: of Soma (the Moon)

• kṛṣṇa-pakṣa-ādau: at the beginning of the dark fortnight

• bhāskara-abhimukhasya: of one who is facing the Sun

• ca: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya; conveying a calendrical/ritual rule)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Pitrs
• Rishis
• Soma
• Bhaskara (Surya)

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Shiva-oriented worship is not only about mantra and offering, but also about kala (right sacred timing) and niyama (discipline): a one-night observance at the start of Krishna Paksha is presented as ritually potent.

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

By highlighting Devas, Pitrs, and Rishis acting in harmony with lunar and solar order, the verse implies Shiva as Pati—the sustaining Lord of ṛta—through whom cosmic rhythms become a means for pashus (souls) to reduce pasha (bondage) via regulated worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A vrata-like single-night observance (ekarātra) performed at the beginning of the dark fortnight, with the practitioner oriented toward the Sun—suggesting prescribed posture/directionality as part of puja-vidhi rather than an explicit Pashupata yoga technique.