Linga Purana

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.

दिव्ये च शाश्वतस्थाने शिवध्यानं समभ्यसेत् निर्मलं निष्कलं ब्रह्म सुशान्तं ज्ञानरूपिणम्

In the divine, eternal place, one should practice meditation on Shiva—pure, partless Brahman, supremely peaceful, and of the nature of knowledge.

अलक्षणमनिर्देश्यम् अणोरल्पतरं शुभम् निरालम्बम् अतर्क्यं च विनाशोत्पत्तिवर्जितम्

Without characteristics, indescribable, subtler than the subtle, auspicious, without support, inconceivable, and free from origin and destruction.

कैवल्यं चैव निर्वाणं निःश्रेयसम् अनुत्तमम् अमृतं चाक्षरं ब्रह्म ह्य् अपुनर्भवम् अद्भुतम्

It is liberation, nirvana, the highest and unsurpassed good, immortal, imperishable Brahman, wondrous and beyond rebirth.

महानन्दं परानन्दं योगानन्दमनामयम् हेयोपादेयरहितं सूक्ष्मात्सूक्ष्मतरं शिवम्

It is great bliss, supreme bliss, the bliss of yoga, free from affliction, devoid of acceptance and rejection, subtler than the subtle, Shiva.

स्वयंवेद्यमवेद्यं तच् छिवं ज्ञानमयं परम् अतीन्द्रियम् अनाभासं परं तत्त्वं परात्परम्

That Shiva, consisting of knowledge, is self-known and unknowable, supreme, beyond the senses, without appearance, the highest reality, beyond the highest.

सर्वोपाधिविनिर्मुक्तं ध्यानगम्यं विचारतः अद्वयं तमसश्चैव परस्तात्संस्थितं परम्

Free from all limitations, attainable through meditation and inquiry, nondual, and established beyond darkness, the supreme.

मनस्येवं महादेवं हृत्पद्मे वापि चिन्तयेत् नाभौ सदाशिवं चापि सर्वदेवात्मकं विभुम्

Thus, one should contemplate Mahadeva in the mind or in the lotus of the heart, or Sadashiva at the navel, the all-pervading Lord who is the essence of all gods.

देहमध्ये शिवं देवं शुद्धज्ञानमयं विभुम् कन्यसेनैव मार्गेण चोद्घातेनापि शंकरम्

Within the body, one should meditate on Shiva, the Lord, who is pure knowledge and all-pervading, by the path of Kanyasā, or by the method of upward movement, on Shankara.

क्रमशः कन्यसेनैव मध्यमेनापि सुव्रतः उत्तमेनापि वै विद्वान् कुम्भकेन समभ्यसेत्

Step by step, by the path of Kanyasā, or by the middle path, O virtuous one, or by the highest method, the wise should practice with kumbhaka.

द्वात्रिंशद् रेचयेद्धीमान् हृदि नाभौ समाहितः रेचकं पूरकं त्यक्त्वा कुम्भकं च द्विजोत्तमाः

The wise, being concentrated in the heart or navel, should exhale thirty-two times, having abandoned inhalation and exhalation, and practice kumbhaka, O best of twice-born.