Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 180

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

Devanagari script

ओषधीनां तथात्मानो वल्लीनां वृक्षवीरुधाम् लताः काष्ठाः कलाश्चैव मुहूर्ताः संधिरात्र्यहान्

Transliteration

oṣadhīnāṃ tathātmāno vallīnāṃ vṛkṣavīrudhām latāḥ kāṣṭhāḥ kalāścaiva muhūrtāḥ saṃdhirātryahān

Translation

同样，也有内在的主宰原则，统摄诸药草、藤蔓、树木与草本；亦统摄蔓生之类与木材；并统摄诸 kalā（时间分段）、诸 muhūrta，以及昼夜交接之际。

Word by Word

• oṣadhīnām: of medicinal herbs

• tathā: likewise/also

• ātmānaḥ: inner selves/presiding principles

• vallīnām: of creepers

• vṛkṣa-vīrudhām: of trees and plants

• latāḥ: climbing vines/lianas

• kāṣṭhāḥ: wood/timber

• kalāḥ: parts/divisions (especially of time)

• ca: and

• eva: indeed/also

• muhūrtāḥ: muhūrtas (fixed time-units)

• saṃdhi: junctions/transitional periods

• rātri: night

• ahān: days (daytime periods)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the world—including herbs, plants, and time-units—as governed by presiding principles under Pati (Shiva), supporting Linga-worship as honoring the Lord who pervades and regulates all categories of nature and time.

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

By implying that every class of beings and every division of time has an indwelling regulator, it aligns with Shiva-tattva as the supreme Pati who empowers and orders these adhishthatr-deities and their functions within creation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Attention to kalā, muhūrta, and sandhi (twilight junctions) points to timing disciplines in Shiva-puja and Pashupata-oriented sadhana—using auspicious transitions (sandhi-kāla) for japa, dhyāna, and Linga-archana.