Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

शर्वश्चाण्डकपालस्थो भवश्चांभसि सुव्रताः रुद्रो ऽग्निमध्ये भगवान् उग्रो वायौ पुनः स्मृतः

Transliteration

śarvaścāṇḍakapālastho bhavaścāṃbhasi suvratāḥ rudro 'gnimadhye bhagavān ugro vāyau punaḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

舍婆（Śarva）安住于猛厉苦行者的髑髅钵（kapāla）中。诸持戒者啊，婆婆（Bhava）建立于诸水之内。鲁陀罗（Rudra）——吉祥的主——现于火中；而乌格罗（Ugra）又被忆念为住于风中。

Word by Word

• शर्वः (śarvaḥ): Śarva, a name of Śiva

• चाण्डकपालस्थः (cāṇḍa-kapāla-sthaḥ): abiding in the fierce skull-bowl (emblem of ascetic power)

• भवः (bhavaḥ): Bhava, the Lord as source of becoming

• अम्भसि (ambhasi): in the waters

• सुव्रताः (suvratāḥ): O you of good vows/firm discipline

• रुद्रः (rudraḥ): Rudra

• अग्निमध्ये (agnimadhye): in the midst of fire

• भगवान् (bhagavān): the Blessed Lord, Pati

• उग्रः (ugraḥ): Ugra, the fierce form

• वायौ (vāyau): in the wind

• पुनः (punaḥ): again/further

• स्मृतः (smṛtaḥ): is remembered/declared in tradition

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana tradition to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Śarva
• Bhava
• Ugra
• Agni
• Vayu
• Āpas (Waters)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva (Pati) pervades the elemental field—water, fire, and wind—so Linga worship is not limited to a single place or form; the Linga signifies the all-pervading Lord who can be invoked through elemental rites and inner contemplation.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as immanent and sovereign: the same Lord is named Śarva, Bhava, Rudra, and Ugra according to function and locus, indicating one Pati manifesting many powers while remaining the single ground of all beings (paśu) and their worlds.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

An elemental upāsanā aligned with Pāśupata discipline: contemplate Rudra in Agni (purifying fire), Ugra in Vāyu (prāṇa and movement), and Bhava in Āpas (life-sustaining waters), integrating outer offerings with inward prāṇa-awareness.