Linga Purana

श्रीकण्ठाधिष्ठितं विश्वं चराचरमिदं जगत् कालाग्निशिवपर्यन्तं कथं वक्ष्ये सविस्तरम्

This entire universe, both moving and unmoving, is presided over by Śrīkaṇṭha; I shall now explain in detail up to Kālagniśiva.

देवकूटे गिरौ मध्ये महाकूटे सुशोभने हेमवैडूर्यमाणिक्यनीलगोमेदकान्तिभिः

In the midst of the splendid Mahākūṭa on Mount Devakūṭa, with the radiance of gold, beryl, ruby, sapphire, and topaz,

तथान्यैर्मणिमुख्यैश् च निर्मिते निर्मले शुभे शाखाशतसहस्राढ्ये सर्वद्रुमविभूषिते

And adorned with other foremost gems, pure and auspicious, possessing a hundred thousand branches, embellished with all kinds of trees,

चम्पकाशोकपुंनागवकुलासनमण्डिते पारिजातकसम्पूर्णे नानापक्षिगणान्विते

Adorned with campaka, aśoka, puṇnāga, bakula, and asana trees, filled with pārijāta, and inhabited by various flocks of birds,

नैकधातुशतैश्चित्रे विचित्रकुसुमाकुले नितम्बपुष्पसालम्बेन्-ऐकसत्त्वगणान्विते

Marvelous with hundreds of kinds of minerals, crowded with diverse flowers, with garlands of blossoms hanging at its flanks, and attended by unique groups of beings,

विमलस्वादुपानीयेन्-ऐकप्रस्रवणैर्युते निर्झरैः कुसुमाकीर्णैर् अनेकैश् च विभूषिते

Joined by pure, sweet water springs, with single streams, decorated with waterfalls strewn with flowers and adorned with many wonders,

पुष्पोडुपवहाभिश् च स्रवन्तीभिर् अलंकृते स्निग्धवर्णं महामूलम् अनेकस्कन्धपादपम्

Adorned with flowing streams carrying clusters of flowers, with lush color, great roots, and many-trunked trees,

रम्यं ह्यविरलच्छायं दशयोजनमण्डलम् तत्र भूतवनं नाम नानाभूतगणालयम्

Truly delightful, with unbroken shade, spanning a circle of ten yojanas—there is the forest called Bhūtavana, the abode of various hosts of beings.

महादेवस्य देवस्य शङ्करस्य महात्मनः दीप्तमायतनं तत्र महामणिविभूषितम्

There is the radiant abode of the great god Mahādeva, Śaṅkara, the high-souled one, adorned with great jewels.

हेमप्राकारसंयुक्तं मणितोरणमण्डितम् स्फाटिकैश् च विचित्रैश् च गोपुरैश् च समन्वितम्

Furnished with golden walls, decorated with jeweled gateways, and joined with marvelous crystal towers,

सिंहासनैर्मणिमयैः शुभास्तरणसंयुतैः क्षितावितस्ततः सम्यक् शर्वेणाधिष्ठितैः शुभैः

With lion-thrones made of gems, covered with auspicious, splendid cloths, perfectly set upon the ground, and presided over by the blessed Śarva,

अम्लानमालानिचितैर् नानावर्णैर् गृहोत्तमैः मण्डपैः सुविचित्रैस् तु स्फाटिकस्तम्भसंयुतैः

With unfading garlands, houses of many colors, and splendid pavilions joined with crystal pillars,

संयुतं सर्वभूतेन्द्रैर् ब्रह्मेन्द्रोपेन्द्रपूजितैः वराहगजसिंहर्क्षशार्दूलकरभाननैः

Attended by all the lords of beings, worshipped by Brahmā, Indra, and Upendra, and by boars, elephants, lions, bears, tigers, camels, and monkeys,

गृध्रोलूकमुखैश्चान्यैर् मृगोष्ट्राजमुखैरपि प्रमथैर्विविधैः स्थूलैर् गिरिकूटोपमैः शुभैः

By those with vulture and owl faces, and others with the faces of deer and camels, by various mighty Pramathas, massive and splendid as mountain peaks,

करालैर्हरिकेशैश् च रोमशैश् च महाभुजैः नानावर्णाकृतिधरैर् नानासंस्थानसंस्थितैः

With fierce, green-haired, shaggy, great-armed beings, bearing various colors and forms, established in diverse postures,

दीप्तास्यैर् दीप्तचरितैर् नन्दीश्वरमुखैः शुभैः ब्रह्मेन्द्रविष्णुसंकाशैर् अणिमादिगुणान्वितैः

With radiant faces, illustrious deeds, noble Nandīśvaras, resembling Brahmā, Indra, and Viṣṇu, endowed with the powers beginning with Aṇimā,

अशून्यममरैर्नित्यं महापरिषदैस् तथा तत्र भूतपतेर्देवाः पूजां नित्यं प्रयुञ्जते

Never devoid of immortals and great assemblies, there the gods always perform worship for the Lord of beings.

झर्झरैः शङ्खपटहैर् भेरीडिण्डिमगोमुखैः ललितावसितोद्गीतैर् वृत्तवल्गितगर्जितैः

With cymbals, conches, drums, bherīs, ḍiṇḍimas, and gomukhas, with graceful melodies, sweet singing, and measured, resounding roars,

पूजितो वै महादेवः प्रमथैः प्रमथेश्वरः सिद्धर्षिदेवगन्धर्वैर् ब्रह्मणा च महात्मना

Thus is the great god Mahādeva, Lord of the Pramathas, worshipped by Pramathas, by Siddhas, seers, gods, Gandharvas, and by the great-souled Brahmā.

उपेन्द्रप्रमुखैश्चान्यैः पूजितस्तत्र शंकरः विभक्तचारुशिखरं यत्र तच्छङ्खवर्चसम्

There, Śaṃkara is worshipped by Indra and others, where the summit is divided and beautiful, possessing the radiance of a conch.

कैलासो यक्षराजस्य कुबेरस्य महात्मनः निवासः कोटियक्षाणां तथान्येषां महात्मनाम्

Kailāsa is the abode of Kubera, the great-souled king of the Yakṣas, of ten million Yakṣas, and of other great souls.

तत्रापि देवदेवस्य भवस्यायतनं महत् तस्मिन्नायतने सोमः सदास्ते सगणो हरः

There too is the great sanctuary of Bhava, lord of gods; in that sanctuary, Soma always dwells with his attendants, Hara.

यत्र मन्दाकिनी नाम नलिनी विपुलोदका सुवर्णमणिसोपाना कुबेरशिखरे शुभे

There is the river named Mandākinī, called Nalinī, with abundant waters, with golden and jewel steps, on the splendid summit of Kubera.

जांबूनदमयैः पद्मैर् गन्धस्पर्शगुणान्वितैः नीलवैडूर्यपत्रैश् च गन्धोपेतैर्महोत्पलैः

Adorned with lotuses made of gold, endowed with fragrance, touch, and qualities, with leaves of blue beryl, and great lotuses fragrant and splendid.

तथा कुमुदषण्डैश् च महापद्मैर् अलंकृता यक्षगन्धर्वनारीभिर् अप्सरोभिश् च सेविता

Also decorated with clusters of kumuda and great lotuses, served by Yakṣa, Gandharva, and celestial women, and by Apsarases.

देवदानवगन्धर्वैर् यक्षराक्षसकिन्नरैः उपस्पृष्टजला पुण्या नदी मन्दाकिनी शुभा

The holy river Mandākinī, pure and beautiful, whose waters are touched by gods, demons, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, and Kinnaras.

तस्याश्चोत्तरपार्श्वे तु भवस्यायतनं शुभम् वैडूर्यमणिसम्पन्नं तत्रास्ते शङ्करो ऽव्ययः

On its northern bank is the auspicious sanctuary of Bhava, adorned with beryl jewels, where the imperishable Śaṅkara abides.

द्विजाः कनकनन्दायास् तीरे वै प्राचि दक्षिणे वनं द्विजसहस्राढ्यं मृगपक्षिसमाकुलम्

On the eastern and southern shore of the golden Nandā, there is a forest, rich with thousands of twice-born ones, teeming with beasts and birds.

तत्रापि सगणः साम्बः क्रीडते ऽद्रिसमे गृहे नन्दायाः पश्चिमे तीरे किंचिद् वै दक्षिणाश्रिते

There too, accompanied by his attendants and Ambā, he sports in a house like a mountain, on the western shore of Nandā, somewhat inclined to the south.