Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 177

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

नेत्रं च नेता जगतां प्रभुर्वै पद्मसन्निभम् तदाप्रभृति तं प्राहुः पद्माक्षमिति सुव्रतम्

Transliteration

netraṃ ca netā jagatāṃ prabhurvai padmasannibham tadāprabhṛti taṃ prāhuḥ padmākṣamiti suvratam

Translation

主宰——诸世界之统御者与引导者——具一目如莲华。自此以后，持戒坚固的圣贤称祂为“莲目者”（Padmākṣa）。

Word by Word

• नेत्रम्: eye

• च: and

• नेता: leader/guide

• जगताम्: of the worlds

• प्रभुः: Lord/Master (Pati)

• वै: indeed

• पद्म-सन्निभम्: resembling a lotus

• तदा-प्रभृति: from that time onward

• तम्: Him

• प्राहुः: they called/declared

• पद्म-अक्षम्: the Lotus-Eyed One

• इति: thus

• सुव्रतम्: the one of excellent vow/steadfast (epithet indicating disciplined sages or the Lord’s unwavering dharma)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It supports nāma-smaraṇa (recitation of Shiva’s names) as a valid mode of upāsanā; meditating on “Padmākṣa” steadies the pashu (individual soul) toward the Pati through devotion and clarity.

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

Shiva is presented as prabhu and netā—supreme Lord and inner guide—whose lotus-like eye signifies pure, unstained consciousness that illumines and governs the worlds.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Japa and dhyāna on Shiva’s epithets—specifically visualizing the lotus-eyed Lord—aligns with Pāśupata-oriented contemplation that loosens pāśa (bondage) through focused remembrance.