Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 87

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

Devanagari script

संसिद्धः कार्यकारणे तथा वै समवर्तत एक एव महादेवस् त्रिधैवं स व्यवस्थितः

Transliteration

saṃsiddhaḥ kāryakāraṇe tathā vai samavartata eka eva mahādevas tridhaivaṃ sa vyavasthitaḥ

Translation

他于因与果皆圆满成就，确实显现于世。那位大天（Mahādeva）本是一而独一，却安立为三重形态：主宰创造、维持与消融。

Word by Word

• संसिद्धः: perfectly accomplished/fully realized

• कार्यकारणे: in effect and cause (kārya and kāraṇa)

• तथा: thus

• वै: indeed

• समवर्तत: came to be manifest/appeared

• एकः एव: one alone

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva as Pati)

• त्रिधा एवम्: in a threefold manner (as three functions)

• सः: He

• व्यवस्थितः: firmly established/abiding

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadeva

FAQs

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

It establishes that the Linga signifies the one Mahādeva who is both the transcendent cause and the immanent effect, even while appearing as the three cosmic functions—so worship is directed to the single Pati beyond all forms.

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

Shiva is affirmed as ekam eva—one reality—yet He operates tridha, threefold, as the governing power behind sṛṣṭi, sthiti, and saṃhāra, showing non-duality of the supreme Lord with the cosmos without reducing Him to mere material causality.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata contemplation: meditate on Mahādeva as both kāraṇa and kārya, loosening pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul) by fixing awareness on Pati who remains one even in threefold activity.