Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 153

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

प्रादुरासीत्तदा व्यक्ताद् अर्वाक्स्रोतास्तु साधकः यस्माद् अर्वाङ्न्यवर्तन्त ततो ऽर्वाक्स्रोतसस् तु ते

Transliteration

prādurāsīttadā vyaktād arvāksrotāstu sādhakaḥ yasmād arvāṅnyavartanta tato 'rvāksrotasas tu te

Translation

其时，从显现原理（vyakta）中，出现了“下行之流”的创造（arvāk-srotas）——精进求成的修行者（sādhaka）。由于他们的趋向转而向下，故名为阿尔瓦克斯罗塔萨（Arvāk-srotasas）。

Word by Word

• प्रादुरासीৎ (prādurāsīt): manifested/appeared

• तदा (tadā): then

• व्यक्तात् (vyaktāt): from the manifest (prakṛti in its expressed state)

• अर्वाक्स्रोताः (arvāk-srotāḥ): those whose current flows downward (a class of creation, often human/earthward)

• तु (tu): indeed

• साधकः (sādhakaḥ): striver/practitioner (seeking, effortful being)

• यस्मात् (yasmāt): because/from which reason

• अर्वाङ् (arvāṅ): downward/earthward

• न्यवर्तन्त (nyavartanta): they turned/returned

• ततः (tataḥ): therefore

• अर्वाक्स्रोतसः (arvāk-srotasaḥ): named as ‘downward-flowing’

• तु (tu): indeed

• ते (te): they (those beings)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the creation sequence to the sages of Naimisharanya)

FAQs

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

It frames embodied beings as ‘arvāk-srotas’—turned toward the lower, outward flow—implying why Linga-puja is needed: to reorient the pashu from outward-going bondage (pāśa) toward Pati, Shiva, the upward liberating current.

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

By describing manifestation from the vyakta and the downward turn of beings, it indirectly highlights Shiva-tattva as the transcendent Pati who enables reversal of this flow—granting grace (anugraha) so the pashu can turn from pravṛtti (outward) to nivṛtti (inward liberation).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to the need for sādhana: Pashupata-oriented discipline (japa, dhyāna, and Linga-arcana) that transforms the ‘downward-flowing’ tendency into an upward return toward Shiva through purification and focused devotion.