Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 129

Adhyaya 72 — Puradāha: Rudra’s Cosmic Chariot, Pāśupata-Vrata, and Brahmā’s Shiva-Stuti

Devanagari script

चतुर्धा च चतुर्धा च चतुर्धा संस्थिताय च पञ्चधा पञ्चधा चैव पञ्चमन्त्रशरीरिणे

Transliteration

caturdhā ca caturdhā ca caturdhā saṃsthitāya ca pañcadhā pañcadhā caiva pañcamantraśarīriṇe

Translation

顶礼彼者：安住于四重分判——复又复为四重——亦复安立为五重；顶礼其主：其身即由五种神圣真言所成。

Word by Word

• चतुर्धा: in fourfold form

• च: and

• संस्थिताय: to the One who is established/abiding

• पञ्चधा: in fivefold form

• चैव: and indeed

• पञ्चमन्त्र-शरीरिणे: to Him whose body is the five-mantra (pañcamantra) embodiment

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga as the mantra-body of Pati (Shiva), teaching that worship is not merely external offering but recognition of Shiva as the indwelling structure of mantra and cosmic order (fourfold and fivefold).

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

Shiva is presented as tattva-sustaining and mantra-svarupa: the Lord who pervades ordered divisions of reality (caturdhā/pancadhā) while remaining the sovereign Pati whose essence is the fivefold mantra-power.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa and mantra-nyasa centered on Shiva’s pañcamantra are implied—an inner Pashupata-oriented discipline where the pashu (soul) approaches Pati by loosening pasha (bondage) through mantra-realization.