Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

Pāśupata-vrata Māhātmya: Dvādaśa-Liṅga Mahāvrata, Month-wise Dravya, and Pūjā-krama

Devanagari script

सर्वात्मको महादेवो गन्धतोये ह्यपाम्पतिः पीठे वै प्रकृतिः साक्षान् महदाद्यैर्व्यवस्थिता

Transliteration

sarvātmako mahādevo gandhatoye hyapāmpatiḥ pīṭhe vai prakṛtiḥ sākṣān mahadādyairvyavasthitā

Translation

摩诃提婆为一切之内在自我。在具香之水中，他为水之主（Apāṃpati）而安住。于圣座（pīṭha）之上，原质（Prakṛti）自身直接安立，并由大我（Mahat）及诸演化而次第安置。

Word by Word

• सर्वात्मकः: the indwelling Self of all

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Shiva, the Supreme Lord)

• गन्ध-तोये: in the waters associated with fragrance (i.e., within the elemental matrix)

• हि: indeed

• अपाम्: of waters

• पतिः: Lord/Master (Pati)

• पीठे: on the seat/foundation (pīṭha)

• वै: indeed

• प्रकृतिः: Prakṛti (primordial Nature, Shakti)

• साक्षात्: directly, manifestly

• महदाद्यैः: by Mahat and the rest (tattvas beginning with Mahat)

• व्यवस्थिताः/व्यवस्थिता: established/arranged in order

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prakriti (Shakti)

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as worship of the all-pervading Pati: Shiva is not limited to an icon but is present as the inner Self within all elements, while Shakti/Prakṛti is the manifested basis through which creation is ordered.

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

Shiva is presented as Sarvātmaka—immanent as the Self of all—and as Pati, the sovereign Lord who presides over the elemental field (here highlighted through ap, the watery principle), remaining the transcendent controller even as tattvas unfold.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports tattva-anusandhāna (contemplation of principles) used in Shaiva/Pāśupata sādhanā: meditate on Shiva as the indweller of the elements and on Prakṛti’s ordered evolutes, integrating inner realization with Linga-pūjā.