Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 168

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

समक्षं यदि तत्सर्वं कर्तव्यं गुर्वनुज्ञया गुरोर्देवसमक्षं वा न यथेष्टासनो भवेत्

Transliteration

samakṣaṃ yadi tatsarvaṃ kartavyaṃ gurvanujñayā gurordevasamakṣaṃ vā na yatheṣṭāsano bhavet

Translation

若这一切要在师前当面行持，则唯应依上师许可而行；并且在上师面前或在神前，不可随意以自己喜欢的坐姿（āsana）而坐。

Word by Word

• समक्षम्: in the direct presence

• यदि: if

• तत्: that

• सर्वम्: all (of it)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done/ought to be performed

• गुर्-अनुज्ञया: with the Guru’s permission

• गुरोः: of the Guru/in the presence of the Guru

• देव-समक्षम्: in the presence of the Deity

• वा: or

• न: not

• यथा-इष्ट-आसनः: sitting as one wishes / a self-chosen seat-posture

• भवेत्: should be/should become

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-dharma/puja-niyamas within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Guru
• Deva (Ishvara as the worshipped Deity)

FAQs

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

It establishes puja-śiṣṭācāra: Linga worship and related rites should be done under the Guru’s sanction, and with disciplined bodily conduct before the Deity—protecting the sanctity of upāsanā and making the sādhaka receptive to Śiva’s anugraha.

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

By requiring reverent restraint in the Deva’s presence, it implies Śiva as Pati (the sovereign Lord) whose sannidhi demands niyama and vinaya; the pashu approaches liberation not by whim, but by alignment to dharma and Guru-guided worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Guru-anugraha and temple/puja etiquette: do not assume casual postures before the Guru or the deity; maintain prescribed āsana and disciplined comportment as part of Shaiva puja-vidhi and Pāśupata-style sādhana.