The Linga Purana
by J. L. Shastri | 1951 | 265,005 words | ISBN-10: 812080340X | ISBN-13: 9788120803404
This page describes The holy rite for the release of Pashus (pashupasha-vimocana) which is chapter 81 of the English translation of the Linga Purana, traditionally authored by Vyasa in roughly 11,000 Sanskrit verses. It deals with Shaiva pilosophy, the Linga (symbol of Shiva), Cosmology, Yugas, Manvantaras, Creation theories, mythology, Astronomy, Yoga, Geography, Sacred pilgrimage guides (i.e., Tirthas) and Ethics. The Lingapurana is an important text in Shaivism but also contains stories on Vishnu and Brahma.
Chapter 81 - The holy rite for the release of Paśus (paśupāśa-vimocana)
The sages said:
1-4. This holy rite that liberates Paśus (individual souls) from bondage [paśupāśa-vimokṣaṇa] has been mentioned by you. This holy rite of Paśupati pertaining to the Liṅga had been performed formerly by Devas. It behoves you to mention this to us in the manner you had heard it formerly.
Sūta said:
Formerly, Nandin, the son. of Śilāda, was earnestly asked by Sanatkumāra. What Nandin spoke to him I shall mention succinctly. This excellent vrata called Dvādaśa Liṅga and capable of liberating Paśus from bondage [paśupāśa-vimokṣaṇa] had been performed by Devas, Daityas, Gandharvas, Siddhas, Cāraṇas and the highly blessed sages.
5. It yields worldly pleasures, liberation, yogic power and whatever one desires. It is auspicious, holy and conducive to perseverance and energetic efforts.[1] It destroys entanglement in worldly affairs in the case of devotees.
6. It has been evolved after churning the Vedas and their six ancillaries.[2] It excels all charitable gifts and is holier than ten thousand horse-sacrifices.
7. It is sacred, bestows all auspicious things, destroys all enemies, brings about salvation even to those creatures that are immersed in the ocean of worldly existence.
8. It dispels all sickness and destroys all fevers. It had been performed formerly by Devas as well as by Brahmā and Viṣṇu.
9. O leading brahmins, the devotee shall make a small Liṅga and bathe it with sandal water. Beginning in the month of Caitra he shall perform the holy rite of Śivaliṅga.
10-11. He shall make an auspicious golden lotus with pericarp and filaments. It shall have eight petals duly studded with all the nine precious gems. He shall then fix the crystal Liṅga in the pericarp along with its pedestal. He shall then duly and devoutly worship it with Bilva leaves.
12-14. O sages of good holy rites, he shall worship the liṅga with thousands of white, red and blue lotuses, with white Arka, Karavīra, Karṇikāra and Kurabaka as well as with other flowers in accordance with their availability repeating the Gāyatrī. After adoring with scents, etc., with incense, with auspicious lamps and with Nīrājanas (wavings of lights) the devotee shall worship the great lord in Liṅga form. O excellent brahmins, he shall offer Aguru (agallochum) in the south by means of Aghora Mantra.
15. He shall offer the divine Manaḥśilā (red arsenic) in the west with the mantra of Sadyojāta, and sandal paste in the north with the Vāmadeva Mantra.
16-17. O excellent sages, he shall offer Haritāla (yellow orpiment) in the east by means of Tatpuruṣa. With devotion he shall offer the following varieties of incense, viz., that originating from white Aguru and black Aguru; then the Guggula dhūpa (aromatic gum resin), the excellent Saugandhika (fragrant incense) and the incense named Sitāra.
18. Mahācaru or an Āḍhaka measure of cooked rice should be offered as Naivedya. Thus, this great holy rite of Śivaliṅga has been narrated to you.
19-22. All these are common to all months. I shall mention the particular features now:—The Liṅga shall be adamantine in Vaiśākha;[3] in Jyeṣṭha it shall be made of emerald; in Āṣāḍha of pearl; in Śrāvaṇa of lapis lazuli and in Bhādrapada of rubies. O leading brahmins, in Aśvina, the Liṅga shall be made of onyx; in Kārttika of coral; in Mārgaśīrṣa of lapis lazuli; in Pauṣa of topaz; in Māgha solar stone and in Phālguna of crystals.
23-24. In all months one golden lotus shall be used for worship; if that is not available a silver lotus shall be used; if that too is not available ordinary lotus shall be used.
When precious stones are not available the worship shall be conducted with gold or silver. If silver is not available it shall be made with copper.
25. The Liṅga can be made of rock, wood or clay along with its pedestal. Or he shall make a temporary Liṅga with fragrant substances.
26-27. In the season of Hemanta (early winter) one shall worship Mahādeva with Śrīpatra[4] (Bilva leaves) alone. In all the months a lotus made of gold or a lotus made of silver with golden pericarp can be used. If silver lotus is not available he shall worship with Bilva leaves.
28. If thousand lotuses are not available one shall worship with half that quantity; or he shall worship Rudra with a moiety of the said half or he shall worship with a hundred and eight lotuses.
29. Goddess Lakṣmī endowed with all characteristics is stationed on the leaf of the Bilva. Ambikā is directly present in the blue lotus and Ṣaṇmukha[5] himself is present in the red lotus.
30. Mahādeva, Śiva, the lord of all Devas occupies the lotus. Hence the learned man shall never forsake the Bilva leaf. He must employ every means to secure it.
31. He shall not forsake the blue lotus, the red lilies and particularly the red lotuses. The lotus fascinates everyone. Śilā (red arsenic) bestows Siddhi of all objects.
32-33. The incense originating from the black agallochum dispels all sins; the offering of aromatic gum, resin, etc. and the gift of lamps destroy all ailments; sandal paste bestows all Siddhis; the scented incense is the means of achieving all desired objects.
34. The incense originating from white agallochum as well as black agallochum and the gentle incense Sītāri bestow salvation.
35-37. The four-faced Brahmā is present in the white Arka flower; the goddess of intelligence is well established in the Karṇikāra flower; the presiding deity of the Gaṇas is present in the Karavīra flower. Nārāyaṇa himself is present in the Kurabaka flower, the daughter of the mountain is present in all fragrant flowers. Hence, one shall devoutly and in accordance with one’s means, worship the lord of the chiefs of Devas by means of these splendid flowers, incenses, etc. according to their availability.
38. Thereafter, he shall devoutly offer Mahācaru made of milk, as Naivedya along with ghee and side-dishes, prepared with all materials of diet.
39-45. Or the devotee shall offer an Āḍhaka measure or half of it of pure cooked rice or cooked with green gram dal. The devotee shall offer Cāmara (chowries) and fans to the deity. He shall also dedicate presents that had been earned by legally justifiable means. They shall be holy and befitting and of diverse kinds. They should be sprinkled with water before dedication and offered to Rudra with a devoted mind. It was from milk that nectar had been extracted by the victorious Viṣṇu for the sustenance of Devas. Everything is founded on cooked rice. By giving charitable gifts of rice to all living beings lord Śiva is delighted. Hence, one shall worship the lord with cooked rice. The vital breaths are stabilised in cooked rice. There is also pleasure in the offering of other presents; the wind-god is present in the fan. Mahādeva himself is present in all materials; the lord of waters, Varuṇa is present in the scented water; Prakṛti along with the principle Mahat is present in the pedestal. Hence, one shall worship the lord duly every month. For achieving all desired objects the Vrata should be observed on the full moon day.
46. One shall preserve truthfulness, cleanliness, kindness, quiescence, contentment and liberal-mindedness. The devotee shall observe fast on full moon and new moon days.
47. At the end of the year he shall make a gift of a cow. Particularly he shall observe the rite of Vṛṣotsarga.[6] With devotion he shall feed brahmins who have mastered the Vedas and who have sound learning.
48. The devotee shall deposit the Liṅga that he has worshipped, in the shrine of Śiva along with the materials of worship or he may give them to a brahmin.
49. O excellent sages, only he who devoutly performs this great, holy rite of Śivaliṅga in all the months, is the most excellent one among those who perform penance.
50. In aerial chariots that are bedecked in jewels and that are as refulgent as crores of suns, he goes to the divine city of Śiva[7] and never returns here.
51. Or he shall perform this excellent vrata only for a month. Even then he attains the world of Śiva. No doubt need be entertained in this respect.
52. Or, if the mind of the devotee is attracted to worldly pleasures he shall observe the holy rite for a year. He will attain whatever boons he craves for and obtain Śiva.
53. The devoted man obtains Deva-hood, Pitṛ-hood, or becomes the king of Devas or the chieftain of Gaṇas.
54. He who seeks learning obtains learning; he who seeks worldly pleasures will attain them; he who seeks wealth may espy a treasure-trove and he who desires for longevity will achieve longevity.
55. One rejoices by attaining whatever desires he cherishes by performing the vrata, only for a month. In the end he will attain Rudratva.
56. This sacred and excellent vrata which is a great secret is evolved by Śiva the creator of the universe, for the benefit of Devas, Asuras, Siddhas, Vidyādharas and human beings.
57. After duly worshipping the lord who is worthy of worship, after bowing to him with head bent down along with one’s sons and servants and after assiduously circumambulating him one shall repeat the hymn “Vyapohana.”[8]
58. This highly precious hymn was composed by lord Brahmā, the Creator of the Universe. For the welfare of the three worlds this was repeated by the magnanimous lord along with Devas.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
N.S. edition reads ‘aviyogakara [aviyoga-karam]’ for ‘abhiyogakara [abhiyogakaram]’, aviyogakaram—sarvadā śiva-sānnidhyadāyakam Śivatoṣiṇī. that which brings about the devotee’s proximity to Śiva.
[2]:
[3]:
[4]:
Śrīpatra—bilva-patra. Śiva is very fond of bilva. Cf. Śivarahasya as cited in Śivatoṣiṇī.
[5]:
Ṣaṇmukha [ṣaṇmukhaḥ]—(Ṣaḍānana [ṣaḍānanaḥ], Ṣaḍvaktra [ṣaḍvaktraḥ], Ṣaḍvadana [ṣaḍvadanaḥ])—six-mouthed or six-faced or six-headed, i.e., Kārttikeya. He is so called because when born he was fostered by the six Kṛttikās who offered their six breasts to him, so he became six-headed.
[6]:
[7]: