Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 51

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

शुभाङ्गो लोकसारङ्गो जगदीशो ऽमृताशनः भस्मशुद्धिकरो मेरुर् ओजस्वी शुद्धविग्रहः

Transliteration

śubhāṅgo lokasāraṅgo jagadīśo 'mṛtāśanaḥ bhasmaśuddhikaro merur ojasvī śuddhavigrahaḥ

Translation

祂肢体吉祥；为世间精髓之羚羊——自在游行而于一切众生中不染不著；为宇宙之主；啜饮不死甘露者。祂以圣灰净化；如须弥山般不动之支撑；充满灵性威力；其形体至纯无垢。

Word by Word

• शुभाङ्गः: one with auspicious limbs/form

• लोकसारङ्गः: the ‘world-antelope’, moving in the essence of the world (subtle, swift, unattached)

• जगदीशः: Lord of the universe

• अमृताशनः: eater/partaker of amṛta (immortality)

• भस्मशुद्धिकरः: purifier by means of bhasma (sacred ash)

• मेरुः: Meru, the cosmic mountain

• ओजस्वी: endowed with ojas (spiritual potency/vigor)

• शुद्धविग्रहः: one whose embodiment/form is pure

Speaker

Suta Goswami (reciting the Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as śuddha-vigraha (pure embodiment) and as the purifier through bhasma, directly aligning with Linga-puja where sacred ash signifies renunciation, inner purification, and devotion to Pati (Shiva) beyond worldly pāśas.

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

Shiva is presented as Jagadīśa (Pati, the sovereign of all worlds), simultaneously immanent (present within the world’s essence) and transcendent (amṛtāśana, established in immortality), with unwavering stability like Meru and intrinsic purity (śuddha-vigraha).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Bhasma-dhāraṇa (application of sacred ash) is implied: it is a Shaiva rite and yogic discipline that reminds the paśu of impermanence, burns impurities, and supports Pashupata-oriented inner purification and steadfastness.