Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 186

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

Devanagari script

संकल्पं चैव संकल्पात् सर्वलोकपितामहः मानसश् च रुचिर्नाम विजज्ञे ब्रह्मणः प्रभोः

Transliteration

saṃkalpaṃ caiva saṃkalpāt sarvalokapitāmahaḥ mānasaś ca rucirnāma vijajñe brahmaṇaḥ prabhoḥ

Translation

正由那一念誓愿之意（saṅkalpa），诸世界之祖父梵天（Brahmā）生出“誓愿”Saṅkalpa；又由同一心念的化现，主梵天复化生名为“鲁奇”Ruci的意生之众。

Word by Word

• saṅkalpam: (the being/principle) Saṅkalpa, will/intention

• ca eva: and indeed

• saṅkalpāt: from (his) saṅkalpa, from intention

• sarva-loka-pitāmahaḥ: the grandsire of all worlds (Brahmā)

• mānasaḥ: mind-born, mentally emanated

• ca: and

• ruci-nāma: named Ruci

• vijajñe: generated, produced

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā

• prabhoḥ: the Lord

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Brahma’s creation sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Sankalpa
• Ruci

FAQs

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

It frames creation as arising from saṅkalpa (intentional power); in Linga worship, the devotee’s saṅkalpa and focused mind are treated as essential instruments to align the pashu (soul) toward Pati (Shiva), who transcends mere mental projection.

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

By showing Brahmā’s creations as mind-born and intention-born, the verse implicitly contrasts Shiva-tattva as the supreme Pati beyond the mind (manas) and its constructs—Shiva is not a product of saṅkalpa but the ground of all manifestation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key takeaway is saṅkalpa and mānasa-ekāgratā (mental one-pointedness): in Shaiva puja and Pāśupata-oriented discipline, right intention and inner visualization support worship, though liberation ultimately depends on Shiva’s grace removing pāśa (bondage).