Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 188

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

Devanagari script

महानद्यां द्विलक्षं तु दीर्घमायुरवाप्नुयात् दूर्वाङ्कुरास्तिला वाणी गुडूची घुटिका तथा

Transliteration

mahānadyāṃ dvilakṣaṃ tu dīrghamāyuravāpnuyāt dūrvāṅkurāstilā vāṇī guḍūcī ghuṭikā tathā

Translation

于大圣河中修持，可得长寿——乃至二洛叉。又有供品如杜尔瓦草芽（dūrvā）、芝麻、瓦妮（Vāṇī：言语/辩才天女萨拉斯瓦蒂）、古杜奇（guḍūcī）与古提迦（ghuṭikā）——皆于以湿婆奉爱（Śiva-bhakti）奉献时，助成吉祥。

Word by Word

• mahānadyām: in the great river (sacred river)

• dvilakṣam: two lakhs (200,000)

• tu: indeed

• dīrgham: long

• āyuḥ: lifespan

• avāpnuyāt: one obtains/attains

• dūrvā-aṅkurāḥ: sprouts of dūrvā grass

• tilāḥ: sesame seeds

• vāṇī: speech / (the goddess) Sarasvatī

• guḍūcī: guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia)

• ghuṭikā: a small pellet/tablet (medicinal bolus) / small lump offering

• tathā: and also

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It links tīrtha-sevā and auspicious offerings with āyuḥ (longevity) and puṇya, implying that when such acts are performed with Śiva-bhakti they become supportive auxiliaries to Śiva-pūjā and the soul’s purification.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as Pati—the Lord who grants the fruition of acts; longevity and auspicious results are not merely mechanical but ripen through devotion and right intention directed to Mahādeva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A tīrtha-based puṇya practice: making pure offerings (dūrvā, tila, guḍūcī, etc.) at a sacred river as part of Śaiva observance, supporting inner śuddhi that complements Pāśupata-oriented discipline.