Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 3

ग्रहाद्यधिपत्याभिषेकः

Cosmic Consecrations of Lords of Planets and Domains

Devanagari script

अपां च वरुणं देवं धनानां यक्षपुङ्गवम् आदित्यानां तथा विष्णुं वसूनां पावकं तथा

Transliteration

apāṃ ca varuṇaṃ devaṃ dhanānāṃ yakṣapuṅgavam ādityānāṃ tathā viṣṇuṃ vasūnāṃ pāvakaṃ tathā

Translation

于诸水之中，安立伐楼那天；于财富之中，安立夜叉之最胜者；于阿底提耶众中，安立毗湿奴；于婆苏众中，亦安立婆伐迦（阿耆尼）。

Word by Word

• अपाम् (apām): of the waters

• च (ca): and

• वरुणम् (varuṇam): Varuṇa

• देवम् (devam): the god

• धनानाम् (dhanānām): of wealth/treasures

• यक्षपुङ्गवम् (yakṣapuṅgavam): the foremost of the Yakṣas (Kubera)

• आदित्यानाम् (ādityānām): of the Ādityas

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• विष्णुम् (viṣṇum): Viṣṇu

• वसूनाम् (vasūnām): of the Vasus

• पावकम् (pāvakam): Pāvaka, Agni (the purifier)

• तथा (tathā): also/likewise

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the cosmic appointments within the Purva-Bhaga account)

Characters & Entities

• Varuna
• Yaksha
• Kubera
• Vishnu
• Vasus
• Pavaka
• Agni

FAQs

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

It establishes that the elemental and divine powers (waters, fire, wealth, solar deities) function through appointed guardians—yet in Linga worship the devotee approaches Pati (Shiva) as the supreme inner governor of all such powers.

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

By showing a structured delegation of cosmic offices, the verse implies a higher sovereignty behind them; in Shaiva Siddhanta this sovereignty is Pati—Shiva—who empowers devatas while remaining transcendent and the liberator of the pashu from pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It supports devata-sankalpa within Shiva-puja: offerings may acknowledge Varuṇa (water) and Agni (pavaka) as functional powers, while the practitioner centers the rite in the Linga as the Pashupata focus for purification and release from bondage.