Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

एष त्रिमात्रो विज्ञेयो व्यञ्जनं चात्र चेश्वरः प्रथमा विद्युती मात्रा द्वितीया तामसी स्मृता

Transliteration

eṣa trimātro vijñeyo vyañjanaṃ cātra ceśvaraḥ prathamā vidyutī mātrā dvitīyā tāmasī smṛtā

Translation

此自在主当知为具三种“摩怛罗”（mātrā，音量/力用）者；并且在此亦为“显义之缘”（vyañjana），令意义得以彰显。第一摩怛罗名为“电光”（vidyutī），明耀如闪电；第二称为“昏翳”（tāmasī），遮蔽覆藏，具惰暗（tamas）之性。

Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this (Ishvara)

• trimātraḥ: possessing three mātrās/three measures

• vijñeyaḥ: to be known/realized

• vyañjanam: that which manifests/expresses (meaning), the revealing principle

• ca: and

• atra: here/in this context

• ca īśvaraḥ: indeed the Lord

• prathamā: the first

• vidyutī: lightning-like, radiant

• mātrā: measure, syllabic unit, subtle power

• dvitīyā: the second

• tāmasī: tamasic, obscuring

• smṛtā: remembered/declared in tradition

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ishvara

FAQs

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

It frames Ishvara (Shiva) as realized through subtle sonic measures (mātrās), implying that Linga-upāsanā is not only outer worship but also mantra-based inner recognition of the Pati who becomes manifest through sacred sound.

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

Shiva is presented as trimātra—beyond yet expressing Himself through three ordered powers—and as vyañjana, the principle that makes meaning and consciousness evident, while also holding both illumination (vidyutī) and veiling (tāmasī) aspects within His śakti.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It points to mātrā-sādhana—disciplined mantra-japa and nāda-anusandhāna—where the sādhaka moves from tāmasī (obscuration) toward vidyutī (clarity), loosening pāśa (bondage) upon the paśu (soul) by the grace of Pati (Shiva).