Linga Purana — Chapter 31
LiP 31.1
कथं भवप्रसादेन देवदारुवनौकसः प्रपन्नाः शरणं देवं वक्तुमर्हसि मे प्रभो
kathaṃ bhavaprasādena devadāruvanaukasaḥ prapannāḥ śaraṇaṃ devaṃ vaktumarhasi me prabho
How is it that, by Bhava's grace, the dwellers of the deodar forest went to the god for refuge? You ought to tell me, O lord.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.2
तानुवाच महाभागान् भगवान् आत्मभूः स्वयम् देवदारुवनस्थांस्तु तपसा पावकप्रभान्
tānuvāca mahābhāgān bhagavān ātmabhūḥ svayam devadāruvanasthāṃstu tapasā pāvakaprabhān
The Lord, the self-born, himself spoke to those greatly fortunate ones dwelling in the deodar forest, radiant as fire through their austerity:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.3
एष देवो महादेवो विज्ञेयस्तु महेश्वरः न तस्मात्परमं किंचित् पदं समधिगम्यते
eṣa devo mahādevo vijñeyastu maheśvaraḥ na tasmātparamaṃ kiṃcit padaṃ samadhigamyate
"This god is to be known as Mahādeva, Maheśvara; no state higher than he is ever reached.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.4
देवानां च ऋषीनां च पितॄणां चैव स प्रभुः सहस्रयुगपर्यन्ते प्रलये सर्वदेहिनः
devānāṃ ca ṛṣīnāṃ ca pitṝṇāṃ caiva sa prabhuḥ sahasrayugaparyante pralaye sarvadehinaḥ
He is the lord of the gods, of the sages, and of the fathers. At the end of a thousand yugas, at the dissolution, all embodied beings—
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.5
संहरत्येष भगवान् कालो भूत्वा महेश्वरः एष चैव प्रजाः सर्वाः सृजत्येकः स्वतेजसा
saṃharatyeṣa bhagavān kālo bhūtvā maheśvaraḥ eṣa caiva prajāḥ sarvāḥ sṛjatyekaḥ svatejasā
—this Lord Maheśvara, having become Time, gathers them in; and he alone creates all creatures by his own splendour.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.6
एष चक्री च वज्री च श्रीवत्सकृतलक्षणः योगी कृतयुगे चैव त्रेतायां क्रतुर् उच्यते
eṣa cakrī ca vajrī ca śrīvatsakṛtalakṣaṇaḥ yogī kṛtayuge caiva tretāyāṃ kratur ucyate
He is the wielder of the discus and the wielder of the thunderbolt, marked with the śrīvatsa mark; in the Kṛta age he is called Yogin, in the Tretā, Sacrifice;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.7
द्वापरे चैव कालाग्निर् धर्मकेतुः कलौ स्मृतः रुद्रस्य मूर्तयस्त्वेता ये ऽभिध्यायन्ति पण्डिताः
dvāpare caiva kālāgnir dharmaketuḥ kalau smṛtaḥ rudrasya mūrtayastvetā ye 'bhidhyāyanti paṇḍitāḥ
and in the Dvāpara, Kālāgni; in the Kali he is known as Dharmaketu. These are the forms of Rudra which the learned meditate upon.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.8
चतुरस्रं बहिश्चान्तर् अष्टास्रं पिण्डिकाश्रये वृत्तं सुदर्शनं योग्यम् एवं लिङ्गं प्रपूजयेत्
caturasraṃ bahiścāntar aṣṭāsraṃ piṇḍikāśraye vṛttaṃ sudarśanaṃ yogyam evaṃ liṅgaṃ prapūjayet
Square on the outside, eight-cornered within, resting on the pedestal, round and fair to see and fitting—such a liṅga one should worship.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
LiP 31.9
तमो ह्यग्नी रजो ब्रह्मा सत्त्वं विष्णुः प्रकाशकम् मूर्तिरेका स्थिता चास्य मूर्तयः परिकीर्तिताः
tamo hyagnī rajo brahmā sattvaṃ viṣṇuḥ prakāśakam mūrtirekā sthitā cāsya mūrtayaḥ parikīrtitāḥ
For tamas is Agni, rajas is Brahmā, sattva is Viṣṇu the illuminator; his form stands as one, (yet these) forms are proclaimed (of him).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
LiP 31.10
यत्र तिष्ठति तद्ब्रह्म योगेन तु समन्वितम् तस्माद्धि देवदेवेशम् ईशानं प्रभुमव्ययम्
yatra tiṣṭhati tadbrahma yogena tu samanvitam tasmāddhi devadeveśam īśānaṃ prabhumavyayam
That brahman in which (all) abides, joined with yoga—therefore indeed the god of gods, the lord Īśāna, the imperishable master,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
LiP 31.11
आराधयन्ति विप्रेन्द्रा जितक्रोधा जितेन्द्रियाः लिङ्गं कृत्वा यथान्यायं सर्वलक्षणसंयुतम्
ārādhayanti viprendrā jitakrodhā jitendriyāḥ liṅgaṃ kṛtvā yathānyāyaṃ sarvalakṣaṇasaṃyutam
—the chief of brahmins, whose anger is conquered and whose senses are conquered, worship (him), having made a liṅga according to rule, endowed with all the (prescribed) marks:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.12
अङ्गुष्ठमात्रं सुशुभं सुवृत्तं सर्वसंमतम् समनाभं तथाष्टास्रं षोडशास्रम् अथापि वा
aṅguṣṭhamātraṃ suśubhaṃ suvṛttaṃ sarvasaṃmatam samanābhaṃ tathāṣṭāsraṃ ṣoḍaśāsram athāpi vā
a thumb's length, very auspicious, well rounded, approved by all, with an even navel, and eight-cornered, or else sixteen-cornered;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.13
सुवृत्तं मण्डलं दिव्यं सर्वकामफलप्रदम् वेदिका द्विगुणा तस्य समा वा सर्वसंमता
suvṛttaṃ maṇḍalaṃ divyaṃ sarvakāmaphalapradam vedikā dviguṇā tasya samā vā sarvasaṃmatā
a well-rounded, divine circle, granting the fruit of every desire. Its altar-base is twice (that measure), or, as all approve, equal (to it).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
LiP 31.14
गोमुखी च त्रिभागैका वेद्या लक्षणसंयुता पट्टिका च समन्ताद्वै यवमात्रा द्विजोत्तमाः
gomukhī ca tribhāgaikā vedyā lakṣaṇasaṃyutā paṭṭikā ca samantādvai yavamātrā dvijottamāḥ
And the cow-mouth (spout) is one third of the altar, endowed with the (proper) marks; and the band all around is a barley-grain in measure, O best of twice-born ones.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
LiP 31.15
सौवर्णं राजतं शैलं कृत्वा ताम्रमयं तथा वेदिकायाश् च विस्तारं त्रिगुणं वै समन्ततः
sauvarṇaṃ rājataṃ śailaṃ kṛtvā tāmramayaṃ tathā vedikāyāś ca vistāraṃ triguṇaṃ vai samantataḥ
Having made (it) of gold, of silver, of stone, or likewise of copper—and the breadth of the altar-base is three times (the liṅga) all around;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.16
वर्तुलं चतुरस्रं वा षडस्रं वा त्रिरस्रकम् समन्तान्निर्व्रणं शुभ्रं लक्षणैस्तत् सुलक्षितम्
vartulaṃ caturasraṃ vā ṣaḍasraṃ vā trirasrakam samantānnirvraṇaṃ śubhraṃ lakṣaṇaistat sulakṣitam
round, or square, or six-cornered, or three-cornered, unblemished all around, gleaming, well distinguished by the (proper) marks.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.17
प्रतिष्ठाप्य यथान्यायं पूजालक्षणसंयुतम् कलशं स्थापयेत्तस्य वेदिमध्ये तथा द्विजाः
pratiṣṭhāpya yathānyāyaṃ pūjālakṣaṇasaṃyutam kalaśaṃ sthāpayettasya vedimadhye tathā dvijāḥ
Having installed (the liṅga) according to rule, furnished with the marks of worship, one should set a pitcher in the middle of its altar, O twice-born ones.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.18
सहिरण्यं सबीजं च ब्रह्मभिश् चाभिमन्त्रितम् सेचयेच्च ततो लिङ्गं पवित्रैः पञ्चभिः शुभैः
sahiraṇyaṃ sabījaṃ ca brahmabhiś cābhimantritam secayecca tato liṅgaṃ pavitraiḥ pañcabhiḥ śubhaiḥ
(The pitcher) with gold and with seeds, consecrated with mantras by the brahmins; and then one should sprinkle the liṅga with the five auspicious purifying substances.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.19
पूजयेच्च यथालाभं ततः सिद्धिमवाप्स्यथ समाहिताः पूजयध्वं सपुत्राः सह बन्धुभिः
pūjayecca yathālābhaṃ tataḥ siddhimavāpsyatha samāhitāḥ pūjayadhvaṃ saputrāḥ saha bandhubhiḥ
And one should worship according to one's means; thereby you will attain success. Worship with concentrated minds, together with your sons and with your kinsmen.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.20
सर्वे प्राञ्जलयो भूत्वा शूलपाणिं प्रपद्यत ततो द्रक्ष्यथ देवेशं दुर्दर्शमकृतात्मभिः
sarve prāñjalayo bhūtvā śūlapāṇiṃ prapadyata tato drakṣyatha deveśaṃ durdarśamakṛtātmabhiḥ
All of you, with palms joined, take refuge in the Trident-bearer; then you will see the Lord of gods, hard to be seen by those whose selves are unperfected.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.21
यं दृष्ट्वा सर्वमज्ञानम् अधर्मश् च प्रणश्यति ततः प्रदक्षिणं कृत्वा ब्रह्माणममितौजसम्
yaṃ dṛṣṭvā sarvamajñānam adharmaś ca praṇaśyati tataḥ pradakṣiṇaṃ kṛtvā brahmāṇamamitaujasam
—seeing whom all ignorance and unrighteousness perishes. Then, having circumambulated Brahmā of measureless might,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.22
सम्प्रस्थिता वनौकास्ते देवदारुवनं ततः आराधयितुमारब्धा ब्रह्मणा कथितं यथा
samprasthitā vanaukāste devadāruvanaṃ tataḥ ārādhayitumārabdhā brahmaṇā kathitaṃ yathā
those forest-dwellers set out for the Devadāru forest, and began to propitiate (him) just as Brahmā had told them:
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.23
स्थण्डिलेषु विचित्रेषु पर्वतानां गुहासु च नदीनां च विविक्तेषु पुलिनेषु शुभेषु च
sthaṇḍileṣu vicitreṣu parvatānāṃ guhāsu ca nadīnāṃ ca vivikteṣu pulineṣu śubheṣu ca
on varied sacrificial grounds, in the caves of mountains, and on the secluded, fair sandbanks of rivers,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.24
शैवालशोभनाः केचित् केचिदन्तर्जलेशयाः केचिद्दर्भावकाशास्तु पादाङ्गुष्ठाग्रधिष्ठिताः
śaivālaśobhanāḥ kecit kecidantarjaleśayāḥ keciddarbhāvakāśāstu pādāṅguṣṭhāgradhiṣṭhitāḥ
some adorned with moss, some lying within the water, some with only darbha grass for shelter, standing poised on the tips of their toes,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.25
दन्तोलूखलिनस्त्वन्ये अश्मकुट्टास् तथा परे स्थानवीरासनास्त्वन्ये मृगचर्यारताः परे
dantolūkhalinastvanye aśmakuṭṭās tathā pare sthānavīrāsanāstvanye mṛgacaryāratāḥ pare
others using their teeth as mortars, and others crushing (their food) with stones, others standing in the hero's posture, and others devoted to the practice of deer,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
LiP 31.26
कालं नयन्ति तपसा पूजया च महाधियः एवं संवत्सरे पूर्णे वसन्ते समुपस्थिते
kālaṃ nayanti tapasā pūjayā ca mahādhiyaḥ evaṃ saṃvatsare pūrṇe vasante samupasthite
—thus those of great intellect passed the time with austerity and with worship. When in this way a full year had passed and spring had come,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.27
ततस्तेषां प्रसादार्थं भक्तानाम् अनुकम्पया देवः कृतयुगे तस्मिन् गिरौ हिमवतः शुभे
tatasteṣāṃ prasādārthaṃ bhaktānām anukampayā devaḥ kṛtayuge tasmin girau himavataḥ śubhe
then, for the sake of favouring them, out of compassion for those devotees, the god, in that Kṛta age, on the fair mountain of Himavat,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.28
देवदारुवनं प्राप्तः प्रसन्नः परमेश्वरः भस्मपांसूपदिग्धाङ्गो नग्नो विकृतलक्षणः
devadāruvanaṃ prāptaḥ prasannaḥ parameśvaraḥ bhasmapāṃsūpadigdhāṅgo nagno vikṛtalakṣaṇaḥ
the Supreme Lord, well-pleased, came to the Devadāru forest, his limbs smeared with ashes and dust, naked, of deformed appearance,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.29
उल्मुकव्यग्रहस्तश् च रक्तपिङ्गललोचनः क्वचिच्च हसते रौद्रं क्वचिद्गायति विस्मितः
ulmukavyagrahastaś ca raktapiṅgalalocanaḥ kvacicca hasate raudraṃ kvacidgāyati vismitaḥ
and with a firebrand busy in his hand, his eyes red-tawny; and now he laughs terribly, now he sings as if amazed,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.30
क्वचिन्नृत्यति शृङ्गारं क्वचिद्रौति मुहुर्मुहुः आश्रमे ह्यटते भैक्ष्यं याचते च पुनः पुनः
kvacinnṛtyati śṛṅgāraṃ kvacidrauti muhurmuhuḥ āśrame hyaṭate bhaikṣyaṃ yācate ca punaḥ punaḥ
now he dances amorously, now he howls again and again; indeed he roams about in the hermitage and begs for alms over and over.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.31
मायां कृत्वा तथारूपां देवस्तद्वनम् आगतः ततस्ते मुनयः सर्वे तुष्टुवुश् च समाहिताः
māyāṃ kṛtvā tathārūpāṃ devastadvanam āgataḥ tataste munayaḥ sarve tuṣṭuvuś ca samāhitāḥ
Having made such an illusory form, the god came to that forest; then all those sages, with concentrated minds, praised (him),
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.32
अद्भिर् विविधमाल्यैश् च धूपैर्गन्धैस्तथैव च सपत्नीका महाभागाः सपुत्राः सपरिच्छदाः
adbhir vividhamālyaiś ca dhūpairgandhaistathaiva ca sapatnīkā mahābhāgāḥ saputrāḥ saparicchadāḥ
with water and with various garlands, and likewise with incense and perfumes—those greatly blessed ones, with their wives, with their sons, with their belongings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.33
मुनयस्ते तथा वाग्भिर् ईश्वरं चेदम् अब्रुवन् अज्ञानाद्देवदेवेश यदस्माभिर् अनुष्ठितम्
munayaste tathā vāgbhir īśvaraṃ cedam abruvan ajñānāddevadeveśa yadasmābhir anuṣṭhitam
Those sages then with words said this to the Lord: "O god of gods and lord, whatever we have done out of ignorance,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.34
कर्मणा मनसा वाचा तत्सर्वं क्षन्तुमर्हसि चरितानि विचित्राणि गुह्यानि गहनानि च
karmaṇā manasā vācā tatsarvaṃ kṣantumarhasi caritāni vicitrāṇi guhyāni gahanāni ca
by deed, by mind, by speech—all that you ought to forgive. Your deeds are wondrous, secret and unfathomable,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.35
ब्रह्मादीनां च देवानां दुर्विज्ञेयानि ते हर अगतिं ते न जानीमो गतिं नैव च नैव च
brahmādīnāṃ ca devānāṃ durvijñeyāni te hara agatiṃ te na jānīmo gatiṃ naiva ca naiva ca
and hard for Brahmā and the (other) gods to understand, O Hara. We do not know your non-course, nor your course at all, not at all.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.36
विश्वेश्वर महादेव यो ऽसि सो ऽसि नमो ऽस्तु ते स्तुवन्ति त्वां महात्मानो देवदेवं महेश्वरम्
viśveśvara mahādeva yo 'si so 'si namo 'stu te stuvanti tvāṃ mahātmāno devadevaṃ maheśvaram
O Lord of the universe, Mahādeva, whoever you are, that you are; homage be to you. The great-souled ones praise you, the god of gods, Maheśvara.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.37
नमो भवाय भव्याय भावनायोद्भवाय च अनन्तबलवीर्याय भूतानां पतये नमः
namo bhavāya bhavyāya bhāvanāyodbhavāya ca anantabalavīryāya bhūtānāṃ pataye namaḥ
Homage to Bhava, to the auspicious one, to the creator (Bhāvana) and to Udbhava (the one who arises); homage to him of endless strength and valour, to the lord of beings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.38
संहर्त्रे च पिशङ्गाय अव्ययाय व्ययाय च गङ्गासलिलधाराय आधाराय गुणात्मने
saṃhartre ca piśaṅgāya avyayāya vyayāya ca gaṅgāsaliladhārāya ādhārāya guṇātmane
And to the destroyer, to the tawny one, to the imperishable and to the perishing, to him whose stream is the water of the Gaṅgā, to the support (of all), to him whose self is the guṇas.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
LiP 31.39
त्र्यंबकाय त्रिनेत्राय त्रिशूलवरधारिणे कन्दर्पाय हुताशाय नमो ऽस्तु परमात्मने
tryaṃbakāya trinetrāya triśūlavaradhāriṇe kandarpāya hutāśāya namo 'stu paramātmane
To the three-eyed one (Tryambaka), to him of three eyes, to the bearer of the excellent trident, to Kandarpa (desire), to the fire that consumes offerings — homage be to the supreme Self.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.40
शङ्कराय वृषाङ्काय गणानां पतये नमः दण्डहस्ताय कालाय पाशहस्ताय वै नमः
śaṅkarāya vṛṣāṅkāya gaṇānāṃ pataye namaḥ daṇḍahastāya kālāya pāśahastāya vai namaḥ
Homage to Śaṅkara, to him marked with the bull, to the lord of the hosts (gaṇas); homage indeed to the one with a staff in his hand, to Time, to the one with a noose in his hand.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.41
वेदमन्त्रप्रधानाय शतजिह्वाय वै नमः भूतं भव्यं भविष्यं च स्थावरं जङ्गमं च यत्
vedamantrapradhānāya śatajihvāya vai namaḥ bhūtaṃ bhavyaṃ bhaviṣyaṃ ca sthāvaraṃ jaṅgamaṃ ca yat
Homage indeed to him for whom the Vedic mantras are foremost, to the hundred-tongued one. Whatever has been, is to be, and will be, and whatever is unmoving and moving —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.42
तव देहात्समुत्पन्नं देव सर्वमिदं जगत् पासि हंसि च भद्रं ते प्रसीद भगवंस्ततः
tava dehātsamutpannaṃ deva sarvamidaṃ jagat pāsi haṃsi ca bhadraṃ te prasīda bhagavaṃstataḥ
all this world has arisen from your body, O god; you protect it and you destroy it. Blessings on you — be gracious therefore, O Lord.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.43
अज्ञानाद्यदि विज्ञानाद् यत् किंचित् कुरुते नरः तत्सर्वं भगवानेव कुरुते योगमायया
ajñānādyadi vijñānād yat kiṃcit kurute naraḥ tatsarvaṃ bhagavāneva kurute yogamāyayā
Whatever a man does, whether out of ignorance or out of knowledge, all that the Lord alone does by his yoga-māyā.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.44
एवं स्तुत्वा तु मुनयः प्रहृष्टैरन्तरात्मभिः याचन्त तपसा युक्ताः पश्यामस्त्वां यथापुरा
evaṃ stutvā tu munayaḥ prahṛṣṭairantarātmabhiḥ yācanta tapasā yuktāḥ paśyāmastvāṃ yathāpurā
Having praised (him) thus, the sages, with gladdened inner selves and endowed with ascetic power, made their request: "May we see you as (we did) before."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.45
ततो देवः प्रसन्नात्मा स्वमेवास्थाय शङ्करः रूपं त्र्यक्षं च संद्रष्टुं दिव्यं चक्षुरदात्प्रभुः
tato devaḥ prasannātmā svamevāsthāya śaṅkaraḥ rūpaṃ tryakṣaṃ ca saṃdraṣṭuṃ divyaṃ cakṣuradātprabhuḥ
Then the god Śaṅkara, his mind well pleased, taking on his own three-eyed form, the Lord gave (them) divine sight to behold (it).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
LiP 31.46
लब्धदृष्ट्या तया दृष्ट्वा देवदेवं त्रियंबकम् पुनस्तुष्टुवुरीशानं देवदारुवनौकसः
labdhadṛṣṭyā tayā dṛṣṭvā devadevaṃ triyaṃbakam punastuṣṭuvurīśānaṃ devadāruvanaukasaḥ
With that sight they had obtained, having seen the god of gods, the three-eyed one, the dwellers of the Devadāru forest praised the Lord again.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition