Linga Purana

स तां गतिम् अवाप्नोति स्वाश्रमैर् दुर्लभां स्थिराम् दीपवृक्षं पार्थिवं वा दारवं वा शिवालये

He attains that state, firm and hard to obtain even for those in their own āśramas, whether the lamp is of wood, earth, or any material, in the abode of Śiva.

दत्त्वा कुलशतं साग्रं शिवलोके महीयते आयसं ताम्रजं वापि रौप्यं सौवर्णिकं तथा

Having given, along with his family, he is honored in the world of Śiva; whether the lamp is of iron, copper, silver, or gold.

शिवाय दीपं यो दद्याद् विधिना वापि भक्तितः सूर्यायुतसमैः श्लक्ष्णैर् यानैः शिवपुरं व्रजेत्

Whoever offers a lamp to Śiva, according to rule or with devotion, goes to the city of Śiva in vehicles as splendid as ten thousand suns.

कार्तिके मासि यो दद्याद् घृतदीपं शिवाग्रतः सम्पूज्यमानं वा पश्येद् विधिना परमेश्वरम्

Whoever offers a ghee lamp before Śiva in the month of Kārtika, or sees Parameśvara being worshipped according to rule—

स याति ब्रह्मणो लोकं श्रद्धया मुनिसत्तमाः आवाहनं सुसान्निध्यं स्थापनं पूजनं तथा

He goes to the world of Brahmā, O best of sages, with faith; invocation, presence, installation, and worship likewise.

सम्प्रोक्तं रुद्रगायत्र्या आसनं प्रणवेन वै पञ्चभिः स्नपनं प्रोक्तं रुद्राद्यैश् च विशेषतः

The seat is prescribed with the Rudra Gāyatrī and the Praṇava; the ablution is said to be performed five times, especially with Rudra and the others.

एवं सम्पूजयेन्नित्यं देवदेवमुमापतिम् ब्रह्माणं दक्षिणे तस्य प्रणवेन समर्चयेत्

Thus, one should worship daily the God of gods, the consort of Umā; to his right, Brahmā should be especially honored with the Praṇava.

उत्तरे देवदेवेशं विष्णुं गायत्रिया यजेत् वह्नौ हुत्वा यथान्यायं पञ्चभिः प्रणवेन च

To the north, one should worship Viṣṇu, the Lord of gods, with the Gāyatrī; and, having offered oblations into the fire as prescribed, with the Praṇava five times.

स याति शिवसायुज्यम् एवं सम्पूज्य शङ्करम् इति संक्षेपतः प्रोक्तो लिङ्गार्चनविधिक्रमः

He attains union with Śiva by thus worshipping Śaṅkara; in summary, the procedure for worshipping the Liṅga has been stated.

व्यासेन कथितः पूर्वं श्रुत्वा रुद्रमुखात्स्वयम्

This was previously taught by Vyāsa, having heard it directly from the mouth of Rudra.

कथं पशुपतिं दृष्ट्वा पशुपाशविमोक्षणम् पशुत्वं तत्यजुर्देवास् तन्नो वक्तुमिहार्हसि

How, upon seeing Paśupati, did the gods abandon their bondage as cattle? You ought to tell us here how they were freed from that state.

पुरा कैलासशिखरे भोग्याख्ये स्वपुरे स्थितम् समेत्य देवाः सर्वज्ञम् आजग्मुस्तत्प्रसादतः

Long ago, on the peak of Kailāsa, in his own city called Bhogya, the gods assembled and approached the all-knowing one by his grace.

हिताय सर्वदेवानां ब्रह्मणा च जनार्दनः गरुडस्य तथा स्कन्धम् आरुह्य पुरुषोत्तमः

For the welfare of all the gods, Janārdana, along with Brahmā, mounted upon the shoulder of Garuḍa, the supreme person.

जगाम देवताभिर् वै देवदेवान्तिकं हरिः सर्वे सम्प्राप्य देवस्य सार्धं गिरिवरं शुभम्

Hari, together with the deities, went before the God of gods; all of them, having reached the auspicious great mountain with the Lord, remained there.

सेन्द्राः ससाध्याः सयमाः प्रणेमुर् गिरिमुत्तमम् भगवान् वासुदेवो ऽसौ गरुडाद् गरुडध्वजः अवतीर्य गिरिं मेरुम् आरुरोह सुरोत्तमैः

With Indra, the Sādhyas, and the Yamas, they bowed to the excellent mountain; the blessed Vāsudeva, the bearer of Garuḍa, descended from Garuḍa and ascended Mount Meru with the best of the gods.

सकलदुरितहीनं सर्वदं भोगमुख्यं मुदितकुररवृन्दं नादितं नागवृन्दैः मधुररणितगीतं सानुकूलान्धकारं पदरचितवनान्तं कान्तवातान्ततोयम्

Free from all misfortune, ever bestowing supreme enjoyment, resounding with the joyful cries of curlews, filled with the songs of serpents, sweetly echoing with melodious music, shaded with gentle darkness, and bordered by groves, with lovely breezes and cool waters.

भवनशतसहस्रैर् जुष्टम् आदित्यकल्पैर् ललितगतिविदग्धैर् हंसवृन्दैश् च भिन्नम् धवखदिरपलाशैश् चन्दनाद्यैश् च वृक्षैर् द्विजवरगणवृन्दैः कोकिलाद्यैर्द्विरेफैः

Adorned with hundreds of thousands of mansions, radiant as the sun, graced by elegant and skillful flocks of swans, interspersed with dhava, khadira, palāśa, sandalwood, and other trees, and filled with hosts of excellent birds, cuckoos, and bees.

क्वचिदशेषसुरद्रुमसंकुलं कुरबकैः प्रियकैस्तिलकैस् तथा बहुकदम्बतमाललतावृतं गिरिवरं शिखरैर्विविधैस् तथा

In some places thick with all kinds of divine trees, with kurabaka, priyaka, tilaka, and many kadamba, tamāla, and latā vines, the great mountain was covered with various peaks.

गिरेः पृष्ठे परं शार्वं कल्पितं विश्वकर्मणा क्रीडार्थं देवदेवस्य भवस्य परमेष्ठिनः

On the summit of the mountain, a supreme Śaiva abode was fashioned by Viśvakarman for the sport of the God of gods, Bhava, the supreme lord.

अपश्यंस्तत्पुरं देवाः सेन्द्रोपेन्द्राः समाहिताः प्रणेमुर्दूरतश्चैव प्रभावादेव शूलिनः

The gods, along with Indra and Upendra, beheld that city, their minds composed; they bowed from a distance, awed by the majesty of the wielder of the trident.

सहस्रसूर्यप्रतिमं महान्तं सहस्रशः सर्वगुणैश् च भिन्नम् जगाम कैलासगिरिं महात्मा मेरुप्रभागे पुरमादिदेवः

Resembling a thousand suns, vast and adorned with countless virtues, the great-souled Lord of Kailāsa, the first god, entered the city at the slope of Meru.

ततो ऽथ नारिगजवाजिसंकुलं रथैर् अनेकैर् अमरारिसूदनः गणैर्गणेशैश् च गिरीन्द्रसंनिभं महापुरद्वारमजो हरिश् च

Then, filled with women, elephants, horses, and many chariots, the slayer of the enemies of the gods, with hosts and leaders of hosts, approached the great city gate, resembling a mountain lord, together with Aja and Hari.

अथ जांबूनदमयैर् भवनैर्मणिभूषितैः विमानैर्विविधाकारैः प्राकारैश् च समावृतम्

Then, with mansions made of gold and adorned with jewels, with aerial palaces of various forms, and surrounded by ramparts, the city was beheld.

दृष्ट्वा शंभोः पुरं बाह्यं देवैः सब्रह्मकैर्हरिः प्रहृष्टवदनो भूत्वा प्रविवेश ततः पुरम्

Seeing the outer city of Śambhu, Hari, together with the gods, Brahmā, and the others, became joyful in countenance and then entered that city.

हर्म्यप्रासादसम्बाधं महाट्टालसमन्वितम् द्वितीयं देवदेवस्य चतुर्द्वारं सुशोभनम्

The second city of the God of gods was crowded with mansions and palaces, adorned with lofty towers, and had four splendid gates.

वज्रवैडूर्यमाणिक्यमणिजालैः समावृतम् दोलाविक्षेपसंयुक्तं घण्टाचामरभूषितम्

It was covered with networks of diamonds, beryl, rubies, and other jewels, equipped with swinging seats, and adorned with bells and yak-tail fans.

मृदङ्गमुरजैर्जुष्टं वीणावेणुनिनादितम् नृत्यद्भिर् अप्सरःसंघैर् भूतसंघैश् च संवृतम् देवेन्द्रभवनाकारैर् भवनैर् दृष्टिमोहनैः

It was filled with the sounds of mṛdaṅgas and murajas, resounding with vīṇās and flutes, surrounded by groups of dancing apsarases and hosts of spirits, and with mansions resembling the palaces of Indra, enchanting to the eye.

प्रासादशृङ्गेष्वथ पौरनार्यः सहस्रशः पुष्पफलाक्षताद्यैः स्थिताः करैस्तस्य हरेः समन्तात् प्रचिक्षिपुर्मूर्ध्नि यथा भवस्य

Then, on the pinnacles of the palaces, thousands of city women stood with hands full of flowers, fruits, and rice, and showered them upon Hari's head, just as they do for Bhava.

दृष्ट्वा नार्यस्तदा विष्णुं मदाघूर्णितलोचनाः

At that time, the women, seeing Viṣṇu, had eyes rolling from intoxication.