Linga Purana

Listen now to the tale of those divine and powerful beings, and the sacred merits that come from their praise and worship. There is one who knows the true meaning of the Vedas and all scriptures, who sees the essence of every action, and who is adorned with every virtue. He is the son of the Lord of all gods, the eldest and supreme among all, gentle in nature, yet himself the great form of Vishnu. Noble and commanding the celestial armies, he is profound beyond measure and the destroyer of sacrificial rites when they stray from righteousness. He is seen mounted upon Airavata, the mighty elephant, his hair curled and dark, his body black as the night, his eyes glowing red. Upon his head shines the crescent moon, and serpents coil about his form. He is surrounded by spirits, ghosts, fiends, and goblins—fearsome hosts who are ever devoted to the worship of Shiva in person. May this mighty one remove my sin. Alongside him stand the revered Mothers: Brahmani, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi, Mahendri, Chamunda, and Agneyika. These Yoginis, worshipped by all the worlds, are intent and powerful; may they dispel my great sin. Among their protectors is Virabhadra, radiant as snow, jasmine, and the moon. He is the fierce son of Rudra, mighty-handed and bearing a trident. With a thousand arms, all-knowing and equipped with every weapon, his eyes blaze like sacrificial fire. He is the lord who grants safety to the three worlds, ever the protector of the Mothers, riding the great bull, honored by all, and glorious in his devotion to Shiva’s feet. It is he who, in righteous wrath, cut off the head of the sacrifice, broke the teeth of Pushan, took the hand of Agni, and struck out Bhaga’s eyes. With his great toe, he crushed Soma’s body. He is known as the Lord, the protector of Upendra, Indra, Yama, and all the other gods. He even cut off the tip of Sarasvati’s nose, and as the lord of the Ganas and commander of the army, may he remove my sin. Among the goddesses shines Mahalakshmi, the eldest and most excellent, granter of boons and adorned with the finest ornaments, the mother of the world. May she remove my sin. She is greatly deluding, greatly fortunate, surrounded by hosts of great spirits, and ever devoted to the worship of Shiva. Lakshmi, endowed with all virtues and every auspicious mark, is always present everywhere; may she too remove my sin. There is also the great goddess, riding a lion, the imperishable daughter of Parvati, who is the sleep of Vishnu and the great illusion, Vaishnavi, worshipped by the gods. She is three-eyed, bestower of boons, slayer of Mahishasura, and ever devoted to Shiva—Durga, may she remove my sin. The Rudras, bearers of the universe, are revered by all worlds, as are the truthful, mind-born ones. May they remove my fear. Spirits, ghosts, fiends, and the leaders of the goblins, as well as the goblins themselves, intent on the divine, may they remove my sin. Having thus praised these mighty beings, one should, at the end, complete the worship by bowing with the head to the ground each month, O best of the twice-born. Whoever recites or even hears this divine hymn of dispelling, casting off all sins, is honored in the world of Rudra. Those who desire a bride will obtain a bride; those who seek victory will attain victory; those who desire wealth will gain wealth; and those who wish for sons will obtain many sons. Whoever seeks knowledge will attain knowledge, those who desire enjoyment will obtain enjoyment, and whatever other desires a person may have—by reciting or hearing this hymn, they are fulfilled. All these desires are quickly attained, and the reciter becomes dear to the gods, when this meritorious hymn is uttered with a specific intention. Diseases arising from wind, bile, and the like do not afflict such a person; he does not die untimely, nor is he bitten by serpents. Whatever merit results from pilgrimages, the fruit of sacrifices, gifts, and especially vows—all this, multiplied a crore-fold, is obtained by reciting this hymn. Even a slayer of cows, an ungrateful one, a hero-slayer, or a Brahmin-killer is purified. One who kills a refugee, betrays a friend’s trust, acts wickedly and sinfully, or even kills mother or father—having cast off all these sins, is honored in the world of Shiva. Having attentively heard this meritorious hymn of dispelling, the sages now spoke: “Tell us, in connection with the giving of the liṅga, about the vows as well.” The reply came: “I shall declare to you the auspicious vows, as once told by Nandin to the wise son of Brahma, and as I heard from Vyasa. On the eighth and fourteenth days of both lunar fortnights, whoever, eating only at night for one year, worships Shiva on these days, attains the fruit of all sacrifices and reaches the supreme state. By making the earth a vessel and eating on festival days, a person attains in one day and night the fruit of a three-night vow. On the fifth day of both lunar months and on the first day of both fortnights, one should perform the milk-stream vow, which grants the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice. On the dark eighth, by eating only at night until the dark fourteenth, one attains enjoyments and goes to the world of Brahma. Whoever for a year, on each festival, eats only at night, remaining celibate, self-controlled, and devoted to meditation on Shiva—at the end of the year, feeding foremost Brahmins according to rule, attains the world of Shankara; there is no doubt. Fasting is superior to alms-food; alms-food is superior to food not begged; food not begged is surpassed by eating only at night. Therefore, one should live by eating at night. Know that food is consumed by the gods in the forenoon, by the seers at midday, by the ancestors in the afternoon, and by beings like the Guhyakas at twilight.” Thus, the sages received the teachings on the power of praise, the greatness of the gods and goddesses, and the sacred vows that lead to purification, fulfillment, and ultimate liberation.