Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 139

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

Devanagari script

चन्द्रबिम्बस्थितायैव शिवाय शिवरूपिणे वह्निसोमार्करूपाय षट्त्रिंशच्छक्तिरूपिणे

Transliteration

candrabimbasthitāyaiva śivāya śivarūpiṇe vahnisomārkarūpāya ṣaṭtriṃśacchaktirūpiṇe

Translation

顶礼于湿婆：安住于月轮之中，自身即为吉祥之形。顶礼于彼：示现为火、月与日；并示现为三十六种圣力之身——以自身Śakti遍满一切tattva之主Pati。

Word by Word

• चन्द्र-बिम्ब-स्थितायैव: to the One abiding in the moon-disc

• शिवाय: to Shiva (the Auspicious One)

• शिव-रूपिणे: whose nature is Shiva/auspiciousness itself

• वह्नि: fire (Agni)

• सोम: moon (Soma)

• अर्क: sun (Arka/Surya)

• रूपाय: to the One whose form is

• षट्-त्रिंशत्: thirty-six

• शक्ति-रूपिणे: to the One whose form is Śakti/powers (energies)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a stuti within the Linga Purana’s Purva-Bhaga)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni
• Soma
• Surya

FAQs

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

It presents the Linga’s Lord as cosmic and all-pervasive—present in lunar, solar, and fiery principles—supporting the idea that Linga-puja is worship of the one Pati who shines through all ritual lights and celestial forms.

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

Shiva is affirmed as self-identical with auspiciousness (śiva-rūpa) and as the ground of manifestation through Śakti—expressed here as the ‘thirty-six powers,’ indicating His lordship over the full range of principles that bind and liberate the pashu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports upāsanā through cosmic correspondences—meditating on Shiva in Agni (sacrificial fire), Soma (lunar sanctity), and Arka (solar radiance)—a contemplative key used alongside Linga-puja and Pāśupata-oriented inner worship.