Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

रूपं तथैव विशतः शब्दस्पर्शगुणावुभौ त्रिगुणस्तु ततस्त्वग्निः सशब्दस्पर्शरूपवान्

Transliteration

rūpaṃ tathaiva viśataḥ śabdasparśaguṇāvubhau triguṇastu tatastvagniḥ saśabdasparśarūpavān

Translation

同样，色相（rūpa）融入其中，声与触两德亦随之而入；于是火（agni）以三德而生——具声、触与色。

Word by Word

• रूपम्: form/colour (rūpa-tanmātra)

• तथा एव: likewise

• विशतः: entering/pervading (having entered)

• शब्द: sound

• स्पर्श: touch

• गुणौ: qualities

• उभौ: both

• त्रिगुणः: possessing three qualities

• तु: indeed/then

• ततः: from that/thereupon

• अग्निः: fire (tejas-bhūta)

• सशब्दस्पर्शरूपवान्: endowed with sound, touch, and form

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It explains the Shaiva cosmological basis behind ritual: Agni, central to homa and many Linga-puja rites, is described as a manifested element carrying specific sensory qualities, showing how worship operates within Shiva’s ordered creation.

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

By detailing how qualities (sound, touch, form) accrue only at the level of manifested bhutas like Agni, the verse implies that Shiva as Pati is prior to and transcendent of these sensory guṇas—unbound, while pashus experience the world through such attributes.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It supports Agni-based upacaras (homa, dīpa/ārati) and, in yogic terms, encourages tattva-viveka—discriminating the elements and their guṇas to loosen pasha (bondage) in Pashupata-oriented contemplation.