Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44

अध्याय ८२ — व्यपोहनस्तवः (पापव्यपोहन-स्तोत्रम्)

Devanagari script

गगनं स्पर्शनं तेजो रसश् च पृथिवी तथा चन्द्रः सूर्यस्तथात्मा च तनवः शिवभाषिताः

Transliteration

gaganaṃ sparśanaṃ tejo rasaś ca pṛthivī tathā candraḥ sūryastathātmā ca tanavaḥ śivabhāṣitāḥ

Translation

湿婆宣说：这些是祂的显现之身（tanavaḥ）：虚空、触（风）、火、味（水）与地；同样还有月、日，以及我性（ātman，自性之灵）。

Word by Word

• गगनम् (gaganam): space/ether

• स्पर्शनम् (sparśanam): touch, the principle of air (vāyu-tanmātra/element)

• तेजः (tejaḥ): fire, radiance

• रसः (rasaḥ): taste/sap, the principle of water

• पृथिवी (pṛthivī): earth

• चन्द्रः (candraḥ): the Moon

• सूर्यः (sūryaḥ): the Sun

• तथा (tathā): likewise/also

• आत्मा (ātmā): Self, indwelling consciousness

• तनवः (tanavaḥ): bodies/forms/manifestations

• शिवभाषिताः (śivabhāṣitāḥ): spoken/proclaimed by Śiva

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teaching as preserved in the Purana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Chandra
• Surya

FAQs

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

It grounds Linga-upāsanā in a cosmic vision: the Linga signifies Pati (Śiva) pervading the pañcabhūtas and the luminaries, so worship is not merely icon-based but recognition of Śiva’s all-pervasive presence.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as both transcendent and immanent: He is present as elemental reality (space through earth), as cosmic regulators (sun and moon), and as ātman—the indwelling consciousness of the pashu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A pañcabhūta- and jyoti-oriented contemplation: in Pāśupata-aligned practice, the sādhaka internalizes worship by meditating on Śiva as the elements, sun, moon, and the ātman—loosening pasha (bondage) through tattva-vicāra.