Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 107

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

मुखानिलः सुनिष्पन्नः सुरभिः शिशिरात्मकः वसंतो माधवो ग्रीष्मो नभस्यो बीजवाहनः

Transliteration

mukhānilaḥ suniṣpannaḥ surabhiḥ śiśirātmakaḥ vasaṃto mādhavo grīṣmo nabhasyo bījavāhanaḥ

Translation

祂是口中之风（Mukhānila），从口而出的生命气息；是圆成显现者（Suniṣpanna）；是芬芳者（Surabhi）；是清凉本性者（Śiśirātmaka）。祂是春与摩陀婆（Mādhava）；是夏与纳婆斯耶（Nabhasya，雨季/月）；亦是持种者（Bījavāhana），在一切众生之内承载创造的潜能。

Word by Word

• mukhānilaḥ: the mouth-breath, vital wind issuing from the mouth

• suniṣpannaḥ: perfectly accomplished, fully manifested

• surabhiḥ: fragrant, sweet-smelling, delightful

• śiśirātmakaḥ: of a cool/dewy nature, embodying winter-coolness

• vasaṃtaḥ: Spring personified

• mādhavaḥ: Mādhava (month/season of Madhu

• grīṣmaḥ: Summer personified

• nabhasyaḥ: Nabhasya (rainy-season month/season

• bījavāhanaḥ: bearer/carrier of seed, sustainer of generative potency

Speaker

Suta Goswami (transmitting a Shiva Sahasranama section within the Linga Purana narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Linga signifies Pati (Shiva) as the inner regulator of prāṇa and ṛtu (seasonal cycles), so worship is not limited to a form but recognizes Him as the fragrance, coolness, heat, rains, and the very seed-power sustaining life.

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as immanent governance: He pervades the breath and the rhythms of time, carrying bīja-śakti (creative potency) while remaining the accomplished, fully manifest Lord who sustains pashus (souls) within the bonds (pāśa) of embodied cycles.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical takeaway is prāṇa-awareness as worship: in Pāśupata-aligned contemplation, one recognizes inhalation/exhalation and the seasonal changes as Shiva’s śakti, integrating daily japa/pujā with ṛtu-dharma (seasonal discipline).