Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 147

Adhyaya 71: पुरत्रयवृत्तान्तः—ब्रह्मवरदानम्, मयकृतत्रिपुर-निर्माणम्, विष्णुमाया-धर्मविघ्नः, शिवस्तुति, त्रिपुरदाहोपक्रमः

Devanagari script

गङ्गाकाशान्निपतिता भाति मूर्ध्नि विभोर्यथा अथ दृष्ट्वा गणाध्यक्षं देवदुन्दुभयः शुभाः

Transliteration

gaṅgākāśānnipatitā bhāti mūrdhni vibhoryathā atha dṛṣṭvā gaṇādhyakṣaṃ devadundubhayaḥ śubhāḥ

Translation

正如恒河自天而降，辉耀于遍在大主之顶；同样地，当见到湿婆伽那之首领时，吉祥的天鼓（deva-dundubhi）齐声轰鸣。

Word by Word

• गङ्गा (gaṅgā): the river Gaṅgā

• आकाशात् (ākāśāt): from the sky

• निपतिता (nipatitā): having descended/fallen

• भाति (bhāti): shines, appears resplendent

• मूर्ध्नि (mūrdhni): on the head

• विभोः (vibhoḥ): of the Lord, the all-pervading One (Śiva)

• यथा (yathā): just as

• अथ (atha): then, thereafter

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen

• गणाध्यक्षम् (gaṇādhyakṣam): the leader/overseer of the gaṇas

• देवदुन्दुभयः (devadundubhayaḥ): divine drums (kettledrums)

• शुभाः (śubhāḥ): auspicious, благоприятные

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganga
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva (Pati) as the cosmic support who bears the descending Gaṅgā, presenting him as the stable refuge for all sacred currents—an image that strengthens the devotee’s reverence for the Linga as Shiva’s steady, all-pervading presence.

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

Shiva is called Vibhu, the all-pervading Lord, whose head becomes the luminous seat for Gaṅgā—signifying transcendence with immanent grace: the Absolute that receives and regulates immense divine power without disturbance.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights śubha-lakṣaṇa (auspicious signs) accompanying proximity to Shiva’s sphere; for Pāśupata-oriented practice, it implies that devotion, purity, and approach to Shiva’s attendants/sacred retinue are marked by inner and outer auspiciousness supportive of pūjā and dhyāna.