Chapter 54 - The dimensions of different varieties of the Liṅga

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1. I shall describe the measurement of the liṅga in a different way. Listen. I shall (now) speak about the liṅgas made of salt, (and) ghee (which when worshipped) increases (one’s) intellect.

2. A liṅga made of cloth (is worshipped) for the sake of wealth. It is known as temporal. The one made of earth is either burnt or half burnt of which the former is better.

3. Then, one made of wood is meritorious. One made of stone is more meritorious than that made of wood. (The liṅga) made of pearl is more meritorious than that of stone. Then (relatively merit-worthy) are the liṅgas made of iron, and gold.

4. The liṅgas made of silver, copper and brass yield enjoyment and release from bondage. The liṅgas made of red lead and mercury are excellent and confer enjoyment and release from bondage.

5. The installation of a liṅga on the earth made of mercury and iron etc or studded with gems increases one’s glory and grants success as desired.

6. If desired one can build temples and bases to these (emblems) on the left side. One may worship the image of the sun cast on the mirror.

7. Hara should be worshipped everywhere. The worship gets completed only (by the worship) of the liṅga. A liṅga made of stone or wood should be of a cubit length.

8. The movable liṅga should be of the size of a finger and encircled by the adytum. The liṅga worshipped in the house should be of the size of one to fifteen fingers.

9. The liṅgas are classified into three groups according to the measure of the doorway or into nine groups according to the measure of the adytum. These liṅgas should be worshipped in one’s residence.

10. Thus there are thirty-six liṅgas in the first class, thirty-six in the second class and thirty-six in the third class.

11. Thus totally there would be one hundred and eight liṅgas. The liṅgas (measuring) one to five fingers (known as) the short are said to be movable.

12. The movable liṅgas measuring six to ten fingers are known as middle. Those measuring eleven to fifteen fingers are known as the best.

13. (Those made) of excellent gems (should measure) six fingers. (Those made) of other gems (should measure) nine fingers. The golden ones (should be) twelve (fingers). The rest of the liṅgas (should be) fifteen (fingers).

14. The four sets of corners from the top should be successively cut into four or sixteen equal sides, and those again into thirty-two and sixty-four (in turn so as to make it a polygon of sixty-four equal sides).

15. The two sides being thus lopped off, the neck of a solid liṅga should be twenty-six parts from the rectangular space at its foot.

16. (The face of the liṅga) should gradually be decreasing by four, six and eight parts from its base (and similarly) the middle part of the liṅga should be gradually less than the height at its beginning by a foot.

17. That which is equal to half (the size of) the adytum is (said to be) the lowest (variety of) liṅga. That which is fifteen (fingers in length) is the excellent. Seven equal lines should be drawn in the central portion of these liṅgas.

18. In this way there would be nine lines. The middle (variety of liṅga) would have five lines. The length of the liṅgas should be nine fingers. The opposite side (should be) separated by two intermediate links.

19. The liṅga is measured out cubit by cubit till it would be nine hands (length). The liṅga is of three kinds—inferior, mediocre and superior.

20-22. A wiseman should mark three liṅgas at the centre of every liṅga foot by foot at fourteen (places) by a fixed measure of length of the door or the adytum. Four liṅgas representing Śiva, Viṣṇu, Bṛhaspati proportionately should be marked by the breadth. The liṅga should be (shaped) long to represent the three forms.

23. The liṅga should have a circumference of four, eight, eight (inches) representing the three qualities. One should make the liṅgas of such lengths as one desires.

24. One should divide the figure (marked) by the banners, celestial gods, elements or cocks. One should know the good or bad from the inches left over.

25. The banners etc., the crows, lions, elephants and goats are excellent. The others are auspicious. Among the primary notes of Indian gamut, the first one, second one and the fifth one confer good.

26-27. Among the elements, the earth is auspicious. Among the fires, the consecrated fire (from the household’s perpetual fire) is auspicious. Half of the said length having been divided in order into seven, eight, five, nine and five parts there would be symmetrical representation of Śiva, Viṣṇu and Brahman.

28. The fifth one is known as the Vardhamāna. There would be two kinds based on the increase of breadth and length. Many kinds are described according to Viśvakarma (the divine architect).

29. The āḍhya class would be of three kinds on account of the size. Measured by the barley grains it would be eight parts, by the arm it would be three parts. The last one endowed equally is known as jina.

30-31. (There would be) twenty-five liṅgas in the first (variety) which are worshipped by the celestials. Then being divided into thirty-five there would be 14000 and 1400 varieties. Thus (we have) the eight aṅgula’s extent from the nine cubit adytum.

32. One has to mark the angular points by means of threads placed at the angular and middle ofangular points. Having made the expansion from the middle, three parts should be fixed from the middle.

33. There would be eight angular parts above the division. Two angular parts represent the part of Śiva. From the foot to the knee portion (of the liṅga) is Brahmā. (From the knee) to the navel is Viṣṇu.

34. (From the navel) upto the head is the part of Śiva. Similarly, it is in the case of distinct and indistinct forms. In the liṅga of five parts, the head part is said to be circular.

35. The images (may be) of the shape of an umbrella, cock or crescent moon. I shall describe the merits of the four varieties. in each (class) differing on account of one’s option.

36. The head portion (of the liṅga) should be divided into eight parts. The first part of the longitudinal portion should be divided into four parts.

37- 39. There (should be) four lines successively drawn in order to divide into parts. We have by one part the lotus, the one called viśāla by cutting off, the śrīvatsa by thinning out and the śatrukṛt by elision of the fourth part. In the sarvasama class the top portion is the excellent and the cock-shaped in the sura class among the liṅga of four parts. The top portion of the anādi has been described. You lisṭen to (the characteristics of) the crescent of the top.

40. At a corner of a part (there should be) the charming axis (represented) by four parts deficient by one part. By the elision of two, three and four parts in order, (one gets) the full, crescent moon and lotus shape.

41. Listen then to (the description of forms having) four or three faces or one face and mukhaliṅga. The part to be worshipped is to be made set with nine parts.

42-43. Having left out twelve parts for the arms and eyes, as before, the head, forehead, nose, face, chin, neck are then to be made. Having covered by the hands, the arms and eyes (are made) with four parts proportionate to the measurement of image.

44. The face should be made equal to one-eighth part of the breadth. I have described the four-faced form. Listen! The three-faced form is described now.

45. The ear and feet are made. One has to mark the forehead etc. for that. Then the arms should be made with four parts quite strong.

46. The projection of the frontispiece (should be) one-eighth of the breadth. One face has to be made such as to have beautiful eye on the eastern side.

47. It should be made round at the forehead, nose, face and neck. By one-fifth from the arm one should make it round. less by one’s arm length.

48. It is good to have the projections in the frontispiece as one-sixth of the breadth for all the mukhaliṅgas whether it is trapuṣa or kukkuṭa (?)