Linga Purana

सर्वविघ्नान् अतिक्रम्य शिवलोके महीयते तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगान् यावदाभूतसंप्लवम्

Surpassing all obstacles, one is honored in the realm of Shiva; there, enjoying great pleasures until the dissolution of beings.

ज्ञानं विचारतो लब्ध्वा रुद्रेभ्यस्तत्र मुच्यते अर्धनारीश्वरं देवं चतुर्भुजमनुत्तमम्

Having attained knowledge through inquiry, one is liberated by the Rudras; the supreme god Ardhanarishvara, four-armed and peerless.

वरदाभयहस्तं च शूलपद्मधरं प्रभुम् स्त्रीपुंभावेन संस्थानं सर्वाभरणभूषितम्

With hands granting boons and fearlessness, holding a trident and lotus, the lord, in the form of both woman and man, adorned with all ornaments.

कृत्वा भक्त्या प्रतिष्ठाप्य शिवलोके महीयते तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगान् अणिमादिगुणैर्युतः

Having established it with devotion, one is honored in Shiva's realm; there, enjoying great pleasures, endowed with the powers beginning with Anima.

आचन्द्रतारकं ज्ञानं ततो लब्ध्वा विमुच्यते यः कुर्याद्देवदेवेशं सर्वज्ञं लकुलीश्वरम्

Having attained knowledge up to the moon and stars, one is liberated; whoever worships the lord of gods, the all-knowing Lakulisha.

वृतं शिष्यप्रशिष्यैश् च व्याख्यानोद्यतपाणिनम् कृत्वा भक्त्या प्रतिष्ठाप्य शिवलोकं स गच्छति

Surrounded by disciples and their disciples, with hands raised for explanation, having established it with devotion, one goes to Shiva's realm.

भुक्त्वा तु विपुलांस्तत्र भोगान् युगशतं नरः ज्ञानयोगं समासाद्य तत्रैव च विमुच्यते

There, having enjoyed abundant pleasures for a hundred ages, a person attains union with knowledge and yoga, and is liberated there itself.

पूर्वदेवामराणां च यत्स्थानं सकलेप्सितम् कृतमुद्रस्य देवस्य चिताभस्मानुलेपिनः

The place desired by all the former gods and immortals, for the god marked with mudras, smeared with ashes from the funeral pyre.

त्रिपुण्ड्रधारिणस्तेषां शिरोमालाधरस्य च ब्रह्मणः केशकेनैकम् उपवीतं च बिभ्रतः

For those who bear the three lines and the garland on their head, and for Brahma, wearing a single sacred thread made from his hair.

बिभ्रतो वामहस्तेन कपालं ब्रह्मणो वरम् विष्णोः कलेवरं चैव बिभ्रतः परमेष्ठिनः

Holding a skull in the left hand, the boon of Brahma; and also holding the body of Vishnu, the supreme lord.

कृत्वा भक्त्या प्रतिष्ठाप्य मुच्यते भवसागरात् ओंनमो नीलकण्ठाय इति पुण्याक्षराष्टकम्

Having established it with devotion, one is liberated from the ocean of existence; 'Om namo Nilakanthaya'—this eight-syllable sacred mantra.

मन्त्रमाह सकृद्वा यः पातकैः स विमुच्यते मन्त्रेणानेन गन्धाद्यैर् भक्त्या वित्तानुसारतः

Whoever recites this mantra even once is freed from sins; with this mantra, using sandal and other offerings, devotion according to one's means.

सम्पूज्य देवदेवेशं शिवलोके महीयते जालन्धरान्तकं देवं सुदर्शनधरं प्रभुम्

Having worshipped the lord of gods, one is honored in Shiva's realm; the god Jalandhara-antaka, the lord holding the Sudarshana.

कृत्वा भक्त्या प्रतिष्ठाप्य द्विधाभूतं जलंधरम् प्रयाति शिवसायुज्यं नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Having established Jalandhara, divided in two, with devotion, one attains union with Shiva; here, no deliberation is needed.

सुदर्शनप्रदं देवं साक्षात्पूर्वोक्तलक्षणम् अर्चमानेन देवेन चार्चितं नेत्रपूजया

The god who grants Sudarshana, with the characteristics previously described, is worshipped by the devotee with eye-worship.

कृत्वा भक्त्या प्रतिष्ठाप्य शिवलोके महीयते तिष्ठतो ऽथ निकुम्भस्य पृष्ठतश्चरणांबुजम्

Having made and established it with devotion, one is honored in the world of Shiva, standing behind Nikumbha's lotus feet.

वामेतरं सुविन्यस्य वामे चालिङ्ग्य चाद्रिजाम् शूलाग्रे कूर्परं स्थाप्य किङ्किणीकृतपन्नगम्

Placing the other (left) foot well, embracing the daughter of the mountain on the left, setting the elbow on the tip of the trident, with a serpent made into a bracelet of bells.

सम्प्रेक्ष्य चान्धकं पार्श्वे कृताञ्जलिपुटं स्थितम् रूपं कृत्वा यथान्यायं शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

Beholding Andhaka at his side, standing with joined palms, and having formed the proper appearance, one attains union with Shiva.

यः कुर्याद्देवदेवेशं त्रिपुरान्तकमीश्वरम् धनुर्बाणसमायुक्तं सोमं सोमार्धभूषणम्

Whoever creates the Lord of gods, the destroyer of Tripura, the Lord, equipped with bow and arrow, adorned with the crescent moon and Soma,

रथे सुसंस्थितं देवं चतुराननसारथिम् तदाकारतया सो ऽपि गत्वा शिवपुरं सुखी

The god well-seated on a chariot, with the four-faced one as charioteer—assuming that form, he too, going to Shiva's city, is happy.

क्रीडते नात्र संदेहो द्वितीय इव शङ्करः तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगान् यावद् इच्छा द्विजोत्तमाः

There he plays, without doubt, as a second Shankara; there, having enjoyed great pleasures as long as he wishes, O best of twice-born,

ज्ञानं विचारितं लब्ध्वा तत्रैव स विमुच्यते

Having attained knowledge that has been thoroughly examined, there itself he is liberated.

गङ्गाधरं सुखासीनं चन्द्रशेखरमेव च

Ganga-dhara, seated comfortably, and also Chandra-shekhara,

गङ्गया सहितं चैव वामोत्सङ्गे ऽंबिकान्वितम् विनायकं तथा स्कन्दं ज्येष्ठं दुर्गां सुशोभनाम्

Together with Ganga, with Ambika on his left thigh, Ganesha, likewise Skanda, Jyeshtha, and the beautiful Durga,

भास्करं च तथा सोमं ब्रह्माणीं च महेश्वरीम् कौमारीं वैष्णवीं देवीं वाराहीं वरदां तथा

Also Bhaskara and Soma, Brahmani and Maheshvari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, the goddess Varahi, and also Varada,

इन्द्राणीं चैव चामुण्डां वीरभद्रसमन्विताम् विघ्नेशेन च यो धीमान् शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

Indrani and also Chamunda, accompanied by Virabhadra, and with Vighnesha—whoever is wise attains union with Shiva.

लिङ्गमूर्तिं महाज्वालामालासंवृतम् अव्ययम् लिङ्गस्य मध्ये वै कृत्वा चन्द्रशेखरमीश्वरम्

The linga-form, enveloped in a great garland of flames, imperishable, placing Chandrashekhara, the Lord, in the middle of the linga,

व्योम्नि कुर्यात् तथा लिङ्गं ब्रह्माणं हंसरूपिणम् विष्णुं वराहरूपेण लिङ्गस्याधस्त्वधोमुखम्

In the sky one should make the linga, Brahma in the form of a swan, Vishnu in the form of a boar, below the linga, facing downward.

ब्रह्माणं दक्षिणे तस्य कृताञ्जलिपुटं स्थितम् मध्ये लिङ्गं महाघोरं महाम्भसि च संस्थितम्

Brahma on its right, standing with joined palms, the great and terrible linga in the middle, established in the great waters.