Linga Purana

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.

कृत्वा भक्त्या प्रतिष्ठाप्य शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात् क्षेत्रसंरक्षकं देवं तथा पाशुपतं प्रभुम्

Having made and established with devotion the protector of the field, the lord of the Pashupatas, one attains union with Shiva.

कृत्वा भक्त्या यथान्यायं शिवलोके महीयते

Having made it with devotion, according to what is proper, one is honored in the world of Shiva.

लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठापुण्यं च लिङ्गस्थापनमेव च लिङ्गानां चैव भेदाश् च श्रुतं तव मुखादिह

The merit of establishing a linga, and the installation of the linga, and the different kinds of lingas—this has been heard by you from my mouth here.

मृदादिरत्नपर्यन्तैर् द्रव्यैः कृत्वा शिवालयम् यत्फलं लभते मर्त्यस् तत्फलं वक्तुमर्हसि

By making a temple of Shiva with materials ranging from clay to precious gems, what fruit does a mortal obtain? You should declare that fruit.

यस्य भक्तो ऽपि लोके ऽस्मिन् पुत्रदारगृहादिभिः बाध्यते ज्ञानयुक्तश्चेन् न च तस्य गृहैस्तु किम्

Even if a devotee in this world is troubled by children, spouse, home, and the like, if he is endowed with knowledge, then what use are such houses to him?

तथापि भक्ताः परमेश्वरस्य कृत्वेष्टलोष्टैरपि रुद्रलोकम् प्रयान्ति दिव्यं हि विमानवर्यं सुरेन्द्रपद्मोद्भववन्दितस्य

Yet, the devotees of the Supreme Lord, even if they have built with mere clods or bricks, go to Rudra's divine world, to splendid palaces honored by Indra, Brahma, and others.

गृहं च तादृग्विधमस्य शंभोः सम्पूज्य रुद्रत्वमवाप्नुवन्ति

And the house of such a person, having worshipped Śambhu in this way, attains the state of Rudra.

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन भक्त्या भक्तैः शिवालयम् कर्तव्यं सर्वयत्नेन धर्मकामार्थसिद्धये

Therefore, with every effort and devotion, devotees should build a temple of Śiva, striving with all diligence for the attainment of righteousness, desire, and wealth.

केसरं नागरं वापि द्राविडं वा तथापरम् कृत्वा रुद्रालयं भक्त्या शिवलोके महीयते

Whether Kesara, Nagara, Dravida, or any other style, whoever builds a temple of Rudra with devotion is honored in the world of Śiva.

कैलासाख्यं च यः कुर्यात् प्रासादं परमेष्ठिनः कैलासशिखराकारैर् विमानैर् मोदते सुखी

Whoever constructs a temple for the Supreme Lord called Kailāsa, with palaces shaped like the peaks of Kailāsa, enjoys happiness.