Linga Purana

कर्तव्यः सर्वयत्नेन धर्मकामार्थमुक्तये अशक्तश्चेन्मुनिश्रेष्ठाः प्रासादं कर्तुमुत्तमम्

A temple must be constructed with all effort for the sake of virtue, desire, and liberation; but if unable, O best of sages, to build an excellent temple—

संमार्जनादिभिर् वापि सर्वान्कामानवाप्नुयात् संमार्जनं तु यः कुर्यान् मार्जन्या मृदुसूक्ष्मया

Even by sweeping and similar acts, one attains all desires; whoever sweeps with a soft and fine broom—

चान्द्रायणसहस्रस्य फलं मासेन लभ्यते यः कुर्याद्वस्त्रपूतेन गन्धगोमयवारिणा

In a month, he obtains the fruit of a thousand Cāndrāyaṇa vows; whoever properly applies a coating with water mixed with fragrant cow dung, purified by cloth—

आलेपनं यथान्यायं वर्षचान्द्रायणं लभेत् अर्धक्रोशं शिवक्षेत्रं शिवलिङ्गात्समन्ततः

He obtains, as is proper, the fruit of a yearly Cāndrāyaṇa; half a krosha around the Shiva field, from the Shiva-linga in all directions—

यस् त्यजेद् दुस्त्यजान् प्राणाञ् शिवसायुज्यम् आप्नुयात् स्वायंभुवस्य मानं हि तथा बाणस्य सुव्रताः

Whoever gives up even the most difficult-to-abandon life attains union with Shiva; the measure of Svayambhu and likewise of Bana, O virtuous ones—

स्वायंभुवे तदर्धं स्यात् स्याद् आर्षे च तदर्धकम् मानुषे च तदर्धं स्यात् क्षेत्रमानं द्विजोत्तमाः

In Svayambhu, it is that measure; in Arsha, it is half of that; in human, it is half of that—this is the measure of the field, O best of twice-born.

एवं यतीनामावासे क्षेत्रमानं द्विजोत्तमाः रुद्रावतारे चाद्यं यच् छिष्ये चैव प्रशिष्यके

In the same way, O best of twice-born, the measure of the field applies to the residence of ascetics, and in the Rudra incarnation, to the teacher and his disciple.

नरावतारे तच्छिष्ये तच्छिष्ये च प्रशिष्यके श्रीपर्वते महापुण्ये तस्य प्रान्ते च वा द्विजाः

In the human incarnation, to the disciple, and to the disciple's disciple; on the holy Shri Parvata and at its edge, O twice-born—

तस्मिन्वा यस्त्यजेत्प्राणाञ् छिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात् वाराणस्यां तथाप्येवम् अविमुक्ते विशेषतः

Whoever gives up his life there attains union with Shiva; likewise in Varanasi, and especially in Avimukta.

केदारे च महाक्षेत्रे प्रयागे च विशेषतः कुरुक्षेत्रे च यः प्राणान् संत्यजेद्याति निर्वृतिम्

Whoever gives up their life in Kedara, the great field, especially at Prayaga or Kurukshetra, attains liberation.

प्रभासे पुष्करे ऽवन्त्यां तथा चैवामरेश्वरे वणीशैलाकुले चैव मृतो याति शिवात्मताम्

One who dies at Prabhasa, Pushkara, Avanti, Amareśvara, or among the peaks of Vani, attains the state of Shiva.

वाराणस्यां मृतो जन्तुर् न जातु जन्तुतां व्रजेत् त्रिविष्टपे विमुक्ते च केदारे संगमेश्वरे

A creature who dies in Varanasi never again becomes a creature; in Trivishtapa, in the liberated Kedara, or at Sangameshvara.

शालङ्के वा त्यजेत्प्राणांस् तथा वै जम्बुकेश्वरे शुक्रेश्वरे वा गोकर्णे भास्करेशे गुहेश्वरे

If one relinquishes life at Shalanka, Jambukeshvara, Shukreshvara, Gokarna, Bhaskaresha, or Guheshvara.

हिरण्यगर्भे नन्दीशे स याति परमां गतिम् नियमैः शोष्य यो देहं त्यजेत्क्षेत्रे शिवस्य तु

At Hiranyagarbha or Nandishvara, one attains the supreme state; if, through discipline, one dries up the body and abandons it in Shiva's field.

स याति शिवतां योगी मानुषे दैविके ऽपि वा आर्षे वापि मुनिश्रेष्ठास् तथा स्वायंभुवे ऽपि वा

Such a yogi attains the state of Shiva, whether among humans, gods, sages, or the foremost of ascetics, or even in the Svayambhu.

स्वयंभूते तथा देवे नात्र कार्या विचारणा आधायाग्निं शिवक्षेत्रे सम्पूज्य परमेश्वरम्

In the Svayambhu deity as well, there is no need for deliberation; having kindled the fire in Shiva's field and worshipped the Supreme Lord.

स्वदेहपिण्डं जुहुयाद् यः स याति परां गतिम् यावत्तावन्निराहारो भूत्वा प्राणान् परित्यजेत्

Whoever offers their own body into the fire attains the highest state; remaining without food as long as possible, then relinquishing life.

शिवक्षेत्रे मुनिश्रेष्ठाः शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात् छित्त्वा पादद्वयं चापि शिवक्षेत्रे वसेत्तु यः

O best of sages, in Shiva's field one attains union with Shiva; even if one loses both feet, whoever dwells in Shiva's field.

स याति शिवतां चैव नात्र कार्या विचारणा क्षेत्रस्य दर्शनं पुण्यं प्रवेशस्तच्छताधिकः

That person attains the state of Shiva; there is no need for deliberation. The sight of the field is meritorious, entry is a hundred times greater.

तस्माच्छतगुणं पुण्यं स्पर्शनं च प्रदक्षिणम् तस्माच्छतगुणं पुण्यं जलस्नानमतः परम्

Therefore, touching and circumambulating the field brings a hundredfold merit; bathing in its waters brings even greater merit.

क्षीरस्नानं ततो विप्राः शताधिकमनुत्तमम् दध्ना सहस्रमाख्यातं मधुना तच्छताधिकम्

Bathing in milk, O Brahmins, is said to be a hundred times more excellent; with curd, a thousandfold; with honey, a hundredfold more.

घृतस्नानेन चानन्तं शार्करे तच्छताधिकम् शिवक्षेत्रसमीपस्थां नदीं प्राप्यावगाह्य च

With ghee, the merit is endless; with sugar, a hundredfold more. Having reached a river near Shiva's field and bathed therein.

त्यजेद्देहं विहायान्नं शिवलोके महीयते शिवक्षेत्रसमीपस्था नद्यः सर्वाः सुशोभनाः

If one abandons the body there, forsaking food, one is honored in Shiva's world. All rivers near Shiva's field are most beautiful.

वापीकूपतडागाश् च शिवतीर्था इति स्मृताः स्नात्वा तेषु नरो भक्त्या तीर्थेषु द्विजसत्तमाः

Ponds, wells, and tanks are remembered as Shiva's sacred places. Bathing in them with devotion, O best of twice-born, at the tirthas.

ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर् मुच्यते नात्र संशयः प्रातः स्नात्वा मुनिश्रेष्ठाः शिवतीर्थेषु मानवः

One is freed from sins such as killing a Brahmin; there is no doubt. Bathing in Shiva's tirthas in the morning, O best of sages, a person.

अश्वमेधफलं प्राप्य रुद्रलोकं स गच्छति मध्याह्ने शिवतीर्थेषु स्नात्वा भक्त्या सकृन्नरः

Obtains the fruit of an Ashvamedha sacrifice and goes to Rudra's world; bathing once with devotion at Shiva's tirthas at midday.

गङ्गास्नानसमं पुण्यं लभते नात्र संशयः अस्तं गते तथा चार्के स्नात्वा गच्छेच्छिवं पदम्

One gains merit equal to bathing in the Ganges; there is no doubt. Bathing at sunset, one attains Shiva's abode.

पापकञ्चुकमुत्सृज्य शिवतीर्थेषु मानवः द्विजास् त्रिषवणं स्नात्वा शिवतीर्थे सकृन्नरः

Casting off the cloak of sin, a man at Shiva's holy waters—if a twice-born bathes thrice, or even a single man bathes once at Shiva's holy waters—

शिवसायुज्यमाप्नोति नात्र कार्या विचारणा पुराथ सूकरः कश्चित् श्वानं दृष्ट्वा भयात्पथि

He attains union with Shiva; there is no need for further deliberation. Long ago, a certain boar, seeing a dog on the path and frightened—