Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 145

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

साम्नायो ऽथ महाम्नायस् तीर्थदेवो महायशाः निर्जीवो जीवनो मन्त्रः सुभगो बहुकर्कशः

Transliteration

sāmnāyo 'tha mahāmnāyas tīrthadevo mahāyaśāḥ nirjīvo jīvano mantraḥ subhago bahukarkaśaḥ

Translation

祂即是萨姆那耶(Samnāya，吠陀传承)与大萨姆那耶——大传承；为诸圣地渡口(tīrtha)之主神，名闻广大。虽超越无知的沉滞，祂却是赐生者；祂即真言(Mantra)；吉祥而赐福致富，亦极其严峻——不可轻犯。

Word by Word

• sāmnāyaḥ: (Vedic) tradition/transmitted sacred teaching

• atha: and/also

• mahāmnāyaḥ: the Great Tradition (supreme revealed transmission)

• tīrthadevaḥ: deity presiding over holy fords/pilgrimage places

• mahāyaśāḥ: greatly renowned/glorious

• nirjīvaḥ: beyond lifelessness/inert (transcending the non-sentient)

• jīvanaḥ: life-giver/one who enlivens

• mantraḥ: mantra/the sacred formula (as His very form)

• subhagaḥ: auspicious/fortunate/bestower of prosperity

• bahu-karkaśaḥ: very harsh/unyielding/strict (in discipline and law).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Sahasranama to the Sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies the Linga’s Lord (Pati) as the very Mantra and as the presiding power of tīrthas, implying that Linga-puja is not merely symbolic but a direct engagement with revealed tradition (sāmnāya) and sanctifying presence.

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

Shiva is shown as transcending inertness (nirjīva) while granting life (jīvana), indicating Pati as the conscious source who enlivens pashu (the soul) and the world, yet remains beyond material limitation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-upāsanā is central: worship through mantra as Shiva’s own form, coupled with strict discipline (bahu-karkaśa) aligned with Pāśupata restraint and purity in tīrtha-oriented observances.