Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 41

अध्याय 91: अरिष्ट-लक्षण, मृत्यु-संस्कार, पाशुपत-धारणा तथा ओङ्कार-उपासना

Devanagari script

निगृह्य मनसा सर्वं शुक्लं ध्यानम् अनुस्मरेत् घ्राणे च रसने नित्यं चक्षुषी स्पर्शने तथा

Transliteration

nigṛhya manasā sarvaṃ śuklaṃ dhyānam anusmaret ghrāṇe ca rasane nityaṃ cakṣuṣī sparśane tathā

Translation

以心摄伏一切，当恒常忆念清净（śukla）之禅观；常制御鼻之嗅、舌之味、双目之见，亦复制御触觉。由此以持戒有序、指向湿婆—主宰（Pati）之禅那（dhyāna），灵我（paśu）开始松解缚索（pāśa）。

Word by Word

• निगृह्य (nigṛhya): having restrained, controlled

• मनसा (manasā): by the mind

• सर्वं (sarvaṃ): all (the faculties/impulses)

• शुक्लं (śuklaṃ): pure, luminous, sattvic

• ध्यानम् (dhyānam): meditation, contemplative absorption

• अनुस्मरेत् (anusmaret): should recollect repeatedly, keep in remembrance

• घ्राणे (ghrāṇe): in/with regard to the nose (smell)

• च (ca): and

• रसने (rasane): in/with regard to the tongue (taste)

• नित्यं (nityaṃ): always, constantly

• चक्षुषी (cakṣuṣī): the two eyes

• स्पर्शने (sparśane): in/with regard to touch

• तथा (tathā): likewise, in the same way

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, conveying Śaiva yogic discipline)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shifts worship from merely external ritual to inner Linga-upāsanā: controlling the senses and sustaining śukla-dhyāna so the mind becomes a fit altar for Śiva (Pati).

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

Śiva is approached as the pure (śukla) object of constant remembrance—Pati, the liberating Lord—known through disciplined inward contemplation rather than sense-driven experience.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) as a core limb of Pāśupata-oriented dhyāna: mastery over smell, taste, sight, and touch to weaken pāśa and stabilize meditation.