Linga Purana

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.

कर्मेन्द्रियाणि पञ्चैव तथा बुद्धीन्द्रियाणि च उत्तरे विधिवत्पूज्य षडस्रे चैव पूजयेत्

On the north, worship properly the five organs of action and the five organs of knowledge; thus, one should worship in the six-angled figure.

आत्मानं चान्तरात्मानं युगलं बुद्धिमेव च अहङ्कारं च महता सर्वयज्ञफलं लभेत्

One should also worship the self, the inner self, the pair, the intellect, the ego, and the great principle; thus, one attains the fruit of all sacrifices.

एवं वः कथितं सर्वं प्राकृतं मण्डलं परम् अतो वक्ष्यामि विप्रेन्द्राः सर्वकामार्थसाधनम्

Thus, I have described to you all the natural maṇḍala; now, O best of Brahmins, I will explain the means for attaining all desires.

गोचर्ममात्रमालिख्य मण्डलं गोमयेन तु चतुरश्रं विधानेन चाद्भिर् अभ्युक्ष्य मन्त्रवित्

Drawing a maṇḍala the size of a cowhide with cow dung, making it square according to rule, and sprinkling it with water, the knower of mantras should proceed.

अलंकृत्य वितानाद्यैश् छत्रैर् वापि मनोरमैः बुद्बुदैरर्धचन्द्रैश् च हैमैरश्वत्थपत्रकैः

Adorn it with canopies and charming umbrellas, with bubbles, half-moons, and golden aśvattha leaves.

सितैर्विकसितैः पद्मै रक्तैर् नीलोत्पलैस् तथा मुक्तादामैर् वितानान्ते लम्बितस्तु सितैर्ध्वजैः

With white, fully blossomed lotuses, red and blue water-lilies, pearl garlands at the edge of the canopy, and hanging white banners.

सितमृत्पात्रकैश्चैव सुश्लक्ष्णैः पूर्णकुम्भकैः फलपल्लवमालाभिर् वैजयन्तीभिर् अंशुकैः

With white clay vessels, smooth full pitchers, garlands of fruits and fresh leaves, vaijayantī garlands, and cloths.

पञ्चाशद्दीपमालाभिर् धूपैः पञ्चविधैस् तथा पञ्चाशद्दलसंयुक्तम् आलिखेत्पद्ममुत्तमम्

With fifty rows of lamps, and five kinds of incense, one should draw an excellent lotus with fifty petals.

तत्तद्वर्णैस् तथा चूर्णैः श्वेतचूर्णैरथापि वा एकहस्तप्रमाणेन कृत्वा पद्मं विधानतः

With powders of various colors, or with white powders, making the lotus according to rule, measuring one hand in width.

कर्णिकायां न्यसेद् देवं देव्या देवेश्वरं भवम् वर्णानि च न्यसेत्पत्रे रुद्रैः प्रागाद्यनुक्रमात्

In the pericarp, place the god Bhava, lord of the gods, with the goddess; on the petals, place the letters with the Rudras, in order from the east.