Linga Purana

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—

प्रसंगाद्वारमेकं तु शिवतीर्थे ऽवगाह्य च मृतः स्वयं द्विजश्रेष्ठा गाणपत्यमवाप्तवान्

By chance, entered a doorway at Shiva's holy waters and died there; thus, O best of twice-born, he attained the status of a Gana leader.

यः प्रातर्देवदेवेशं शिवं लिङ्गस्वरूपिणम् पश्येत्स याति सर्वस्माद् अधिकां गतिमेव च

Whoever, in the morning, beholds Shiva, Lord of gods, in the form of the linga, attains a state superior to all others.

मध्याह्ने च महादेवं दृष्ट्वा यज्ञफलं लभेत् सायाह्ने सर्वयज्ञानां फलं प्राप्य विमुच्यते

At midday, seeing Mahadeva, one obtains the fruit of sacrifice; in the evening, having gained the fruit of all sacrifices, one is liberated.

मानसैर्वाचिकैः पापैः कायिकैश् च महत्तरैः तथोपपातकैश्चैव पापैश्चैवानुपातकैः

By mental, verbal, and bodily sins, and by great transgressions, as well as by secondary and minor sins—

संक्रमे देवमीशानं दृष्ट्वा लिङ्गाकृतिं प्रभुम् मासेन यत्कृतं पापं त्यक्त्वा याति शिवं पदम्

At the crossing, seeing the Lord Ishana in the form of the linga, the master, one abandons the sins committed in a month and attains Shiva's abode.

अयने चार्धमासेन दक्षिणे चोत्तरायणे विषुवे चैव सम्पूज्य प्रयाति परमां गतिम्

On the solstice, in half a month, whether in the southern or northern course, and at the equinox, having worshipped, one attains the supreme state.

प्रदक्षिणत्रयं कुर्याद् यः प्रासादं समन्ततः सव्यापसव्यन्यायेन मृदुगत्या शुचिर्नरः

Whoever, pure in conduct, circumambulates the temple three times all around, following the left and right path, with gentle steps—

पदे पदे ऽश्वमेधस्य यज्ञस्य फलमाप्नुयात् वाचा यस्तु शिवं नित्यं संरौति परमेश्वरम्

At every step, he obtains the fruit of the horse sacrifice; and whoever always praises Shiva, the Supreme Lord, with words—

सो ऽपि याति शिवं स्थानं प्राप्य किं पुनरेव च कृत्वा मण्डलकं क्षेत्रं गन्धगोमयवारिणा

He too attains Shiva's abode; having reached it, what more is there to say? Moreover, having made a circle or field with fragrant cow dung and water—

मुक्ताफलमयैश्चूर्णैर् इन्द्रनीलमयैस् तथा पद्मरागमयैश्चैव स्फाटिकैश् च सुशोभनैः

With powders made of pearls, sapphires, rubies, and also with beautiful crystals—

तथा मारकतैश्चैव सौवर्णै राजतैस् तथा तद्वर्णैर् लौकिकैश्चैव चूर्णैर्वित्तविवर्जितैः

And likewise with emeralds, gold, silver, and powders of those colors, and even with ordinary powders free from wealth—

आलिख्य कमलं भद्रं दशहस्तप्रमाणतः सकर्णिकं महाभागा महादेवसमीपतः

Drawing a blessed lotus, ten hands in measure, with a pericarp, O fortunate ones, near Mahadeva—

तत्रावाह्य महादेवं नवशक्तिसमन्वितम् पञ्चभिश्च तथा षड्भिर् अष्टाभिश्चेष्टदं परम्

There, invoking Mahadeva endowed with nine powers, and likewise with five, six, or eight, the supreme giver of actions—

पुनरष्टाभिर् ईशानं दशारे दशभिस् तथा पुनर्बाह्ये च दशभिः सम्पूज्य प्रणिपत्य च

Again, with eight for Ishana, ten for the ten spokes, and again with ten on the outer side, having worshipped and bowed—

निवेद्य देवदेवाय क्षितिदानफलं लभेत् शालिपिष्टादिभिर् वापि पद्ममालिख्य निर्धनः

Having offered to the Lord of gods, one obtains the fruit of giving land; or by drawing a lotus with rice flour and the like, even a poor person—

पूर्वोक्तमखिलं पुण्यं लभते नात्र संशयः द्वादशारं तथालिख्य मण्डलं पदम् उत्तमम्

He obtains all the merit previously described; there is no doubt of this. Likewise, by drawing a twelve-spoked circle, he attains the highest state.

रत्नचूर्णादिभिश्चूर्णैस् तथा द्वादशमूर्तिभिः मण्डलस्य च मध्ये तु भास्करं स्थाप्य पूजयेत्

With powders of jewels and other substances, and with the twelve forms, one should establish the Sun in the center of the maṇḍala and worship him.

ग्रहैश् च संवृतं वापि सूर्यसायुज्यमुत्तमम् एवं प्राकृतम् अप्यार्थ्यां षडस्रं परिकल्प्य च

Surrounding him with the planets, or not, one attains supreme union with the Sun; thus, even with ordinary means, one should arrange a six-angled figure as desired.

मध्यदेशे च देवेशीं प्रकृतिं ब्रह्मरूपिणीम् दक्षिणे सत्त्वमूर्तिं च वामतश् च रजोगुणम्

In the middle region, place the Goddess, the source of creation, who is of the form of Brahman; on the right, the form of Sattva, and on the left, the quality of Rajas.

अग्रतस्तु तमोमूर्तिं मध्ये देवीं तथांबिकाम् पञ्चभूतानि तन्मात्रापञ्चकं चैव दक्षिणे

In front, the form of Tamas; in the center, the Goddess Ambikā; on the right, the five elements and the five subtle elements.