Linga Purana

ख्यायते यत्त्विति ख्यातिर् ज्ञानादिभिर् अनेकशः सर्वतत्त्वाधिपः सर्वं विजानाति यदीश्वरः

Khyāti is that by which something is made known, in many ways by knowledge and the like; Īśvara is the lord of all principles, who knows everything.

मनुते मन्यते यस्मान् मतिर्मतिमतांवराः अर्थं बोधयते यच्च बुध्यते बुद्धिरुच्यते

Mati is that by which one thinks and considers, O best among the wise; that which makes one understand the meaning is called buddhi, intellect.

अस्या बुद्धेः प्रसादस्तु प्राणायामेन सिध्यति दोषान्विनिर्दहेत्सर्वान् प्राणायामादसौ यमी

The clarity of this intellect is accomplished by breath-control; by breath-control, one restrains all faults—this is called yama.

पातकं धारणाभिस्तु प्रत्याहारेण निर्दहेत् विषयान्विषवद्ध्यात्वा ध्यानेनानीश्वरान् गुणान्

Sin is destroyed by dhāraṇā, and by pratyāhāra; considering the sense-objects as poison, one should meditate on the qualities that are not lordly.

समाधिना यतिश्रेष्ठाः प्रज्ञावृद्धिं विवर्धयेत् स्थानं लब्ध्वैव कुर्वीत योगाष्टाङ्गानि वै क्रमात्

By samādhi, the best of ascetics should increase the growth of wisdom; having attained the proper state, one should practice the eight limbs of yoga in order.

लब्ध्वासनानि विधिवद् योगसिद्ध्यर्थम् आत्मवित् आदेशकाले योगस्य दर्शनं हि न विद्यते

Having properly obtained the seats for the accomplishment of yoga, the knower of the self does not see the vision of yoga at the wrong time.

अग्न्यभ्यासे जले वापि शुष्कपर्णचये तथा जन्तुव्याप्ते श्मशाने च जीर्णगोष्ठे चतुष्पथे

Whether in the practice of fire, or in water, or on a heap of dry leaves, or in a place infested with creatures, in a cremation ground, in a ruined cowshed, or at a crossroads—

सशब्दे सभये वापि चैत्यवल्मीकसंचये अशुभे दुर्जनाक्रान्ते मशकादिसमन्विते

In a place with noise or fear, in a heap of ant-hills, in an impure place, overrun by wicked people, or filled with mosquitoes and the like—

नाचरेद्देहबाधायां दौर्मनस्यादिसम्भवे सुगुप्ते तु शुभे रम्ये गुहायां पर्वतस्य तु

One should not practice where there is bodily distress or the presence of mental disturbance; but in a well-concealed, auspicious, pleasant place, such as a cave in a mountain—

भवक्षेत्रे सुगुप्ते वा भवारामे वने ऽपि वा गृहे तु सुशुभे देशे विजने जन्तुवर्जिते

In a field, or a well-hidden place, or a delightful forest, or at home in a most auspicious spot, in a solitary place free from creatures—

अत्यन्तनिर्मले सम्यक् सुप्रलिप्ते विचित्रिते दर्पणोदरसंकाशे कृष्णागरुसुधूपिते

In a place absolutely pure, well-plastered, beautifully decorated, shining like the inside of a mirror, and fragrant with black aloe wood—

नानापुष्पसमाकीर्णे वितानोपरि शोभिते फलपल्लवमूलाढ्ये कुशपुष्पसमन्विते

Adorned with various flowers, splendid with canopies above, rich with fruits and tender leaves at the base, and furnished with sacred grass and flowers—

समासनस्थो योगाङ्गान्य् अभ्यसेद्धृषितः स्वयम् प्रणिपत्य गुरुं पश्चाद् भवं देवीं विनायकम्

Seated properly, let one diligently practice the limbs of yoga, first bowing to the teacher, then to Bhava, the Goddess, and Vinayaka.

योगीश्वरान् सशिष्यांश् च योगं युञ्जीत योगवित् आसनं स्वस्तिकं बद्ध्वा पद्ममर्धासनं तु वा

The knower of yoga should unite with yoga in the presence of the lords of yogis and their disciples, having assumed the svastika, bound, lotus, or half-lotus posture.

समजानुस् तथा धीमान् एकजानुरथापिवा समं दृढासनो भूत्वा संहृत्य चरणावुभौ

With both knees even, or with one knee as well, being steady and firm in posture, having drawn both feet together—

संवृतास्योपबद्धाक्ष उरो विष्टभ्य चाग्रतः पार्ष्णिभ्यां वृषणौ रक्षंस् तथा प्रजननं पुनः

With mouth closed, eyes restrained, chest held upright, protecting the testicles with the heels, and likewise safeguarding the generative organ—

किंचिदुन्नामितशिर दन्तैर्दन्तान्न संस्पृशेत् सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्

With the head slightly raised, teeth not touching each other, gazing at the tip of the nose, not glancing in any direction—

तमः प्रच्छाद्य रजसा रजः सत्त्वेन छादयेत् ततः सत्त्वस्थितो भूत्वा शिवध्यानं समभ्यसेत्

Covering darkness with rajas, and rajas with sattva, then, established in sattva, one should practice meditation on Shiva.

ओंकारवाच्यं परमं शुद्धं दीपशिखाकृतिम् ध्यायेद्वै पुण्डरीकस्य कर्णिकायां समाहितः

One should meditate, with concentration, on the supreme, pure form expressed by Om, like the flame of a lamp, in the pericarp of the lotus.

नाभेरधस्ताद्वा विद्वान् ध्यात्वा कमलमुत्तमम् त्र्यङ्गुले चाष्टकोणं वा पञ्चकोणमथापि वा

Or, the wise one may meditate below the navel on the supreme lotus, three fingers in size, with eight or five petals, or likewise—

त्रिकोणं च तथाग्नेयं सौम्यं सौरं स्वशक्तिभिः सौरं सौम्य तथाग्नेयम् अथ वानुक्रमेण तु

And also the triangular figure, of the fire region, the lunar, the solar, with their respective powers; solar, lunar, and fiery, in due order—

आग्नेयं च ततः सौरं सौम्यमेवं विधानतः अग्नेरधः प्रकल्प्यैवं धर्मादीनां चतुष्टयम्

Then, the fiery, then the solar, then the lunar, in this arrangement, placing them below the fire region, and likewise the fourfold group of dharma and the rest—

गुणत्रयं क्रमेणैव मण्डलोपरि भावयेत् सत्त्वस्थं चिन्तयेद्रुद्रं स्वशक्त्या परिमण्डितम्

One should contemplate the three qualities in order above the mandala, and, established in sattva, meditate on Rudra, encircled by his own power.

नाभौ वाथ गले वापि भ्रूमध्ये वा यथाविधि ललाटफलिकायां वा मूर्ध्नि ध्यानं समाचरेत्

One should practice meditation properly at the navel, or at the throat, or between the eyebrows, or at the center of the forehead, or on the crown of the head.

द्विदले षोडशारे वा द्वादशारे क्रमेण तु दशारे वा षडस्रे वा चतुरस्रे स्मरेच्छिवम्

One should contemplate Shiva in the two-petalled, sixteen-spoked, twelve-spoked, ten-spoked, six-sided, or four-sided (lotus), in due order.

कनकाभे तथागारसंनिभे सुसिते ऽपि वा द्वादशादित्यसंकाशे चन्द्रबिम्बसमे ऽपि वा

Whether it is golden in appearance, resembling a palace, pure white, shining like twelve suns, or like the disc of the moon—

विद्युत्कोटिनिभे स्थाने चिन्तयेत्परमेश्वरम् अग्निवर्णे ऽथवा विद्युद् वलयाभे समाहितः

Or in a place resembling a flash of lightning, one should meditate on the Supreme Lord; or, being focused, on a fiery hue or a circle like lightning.

वज्रकोटिप्रभे स्थाने पद्मरागनिभे ऽपि वा नीललोहितबिम्बे वा योगी ध्यानं समभ्यसेत्

In a place shining like the tip of a diamond, or resembling a ruby, or in a blue-red disc, the yogi should practice meditation.

महेश्वरं हृदि ध्यायेन् नाभिपद्मे सदाशिवम् चन्द्रचूडं ललाटे तु भ्रूमध्ये शंकरं स्वयम्

One should meditate on Maheshvara in the heart, on Sadashiva in the lotus of the navel, on the moon-crested one at the forehead, and on Shankara himself between the eyebrows.