Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 102

Adhyaya 89: शौचाचारलक्षणम् — सदाचार, भैक्ष्यचर्या, प्रायश्चित्त, द्रव्यशुद्धि, आशौच-निर्णय

Devanagari script

स्नात्वार्धमासात् संशुद्धा ततः शुद्धिर्भविष्यति आ षोडशात् ततः स्त्रीणां मूत्रवच्छौचमिष्यते

Transliteration

snātvārdhamāsāt saṃśuddhā tataḥ śuddhirbhaviṣyati ā ṣoḍaśāt tataḥ strīṇāṃ mūtravacchaucamiṣyate

Translation

沐浴之后，至半月而得清净；其后方成圆满清净。直至第十六日，女子所应行之净法，规定如小便后之速净（即简短而即刻之śauca）。

Word by Word

• स्नात्वा: having bathed

• अर्धमासात्: after half a month (about fifteen days)

• संशुद्धा: purified/cleansed

• ततः: then/thereafter

• शुद्धिः: purity (ritual purification)

• भविष्यति: will occur/is attained

• आ: up to

• षोडशात्: the sixteenth (day)

• ततः: thereafter/with regard to that

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women

• मूत्रवत्: like (after) urine (passing urine)

• शौचम्: cleansing/ritual purity

• इष्यते: is prescribed/considered proper.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating traditional Dharma-vidhi within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes śauca (ritual cleanliness) as a prerequisite for approaching the Linga—outer purity supports steadiness of mind, making the worshipper (pashu) fit to turn toward Pati (Shiva) and loosen pasha (bondage).

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

Indirectly, it presents Shiva as the supremely pure Pati, approached through disciplines that refine the worshipper; the rule highlights that purification is a means for the bound soul to become eligible for communion with Shiva’s ever-pure reality.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A śauca-vidhi (purification observance) tied to bathing and time-based purification; in Shaiva sadhana it corresponds to bahya-śauca supporting antar-śauca—mental clarity needed for mantra, dhyana, and puja.