Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 27
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
सूत उवाच । लिंगानां च क्रमं वक्ष्ये यथावच्छृणुत द्विजाः । तदेव लिंगं प्रथमं प्रणवं सार्वकामिकम्
sūta uvāca | liṃgānāṃ ca kramaṃ vakṣye yathāvacchṛṇuta dvijāḥ | tadeva liṃgaṃ prathamaṃ praṇavaṃ sārvakāmikam
苏多说道：“我将依次宣说诸林伽的次第与尊卑——请诸二生圣者专心聆听。最初之林伽即是‘普罗那瓦’（唵），能成就一切正当愿求。”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Establishes Praṇava (Oṃ) as the primordial Liṅga—inner worship that supports all dharmic aims and culminates in liberation when joined with Śiva-bhakti and right practice.
Mantra: oṃ (praṇava)
FAQs
It establishes Oṁ (Praṇava) as the primordial Liṅga—Shiva’s subtlest sign—indicating that all forms of Liṅga worship ultimately rest on sound-consciousness and lead toward Shiva-realization.
It links Saguna Liṅga worship to its subtle source: Praṇava. External worship of the Liṅga is affirmed, while the verse points to the inner reality of Shiva as the transcendent principle symbolized by Oṁ.
Japa and contemplation of Praṇava (Oṁ)—especially as the seed preceding mantra practice—can be taken as the key practice, supporting Liṅga-pūjā and leading the mind toward steady devotion and liberation.