Linga Purana

लभते नात्र संदेहः सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम् कार्तिक्यां वा तु या नारी एकभक्तेन वर्तते

She obtains this without doubt; truly, truly I speak. Or, in the month of Kārtika, a woman who observes with single-minded devotion,

क्षमाहिंसादिनियमैः संयुक्ता ब्रह्मचारिणी दद्यात्कृष्णतिलानां च भारमेकम् अतन्द्रिता

Endowed with vows of forgiveness and nonviolence, practicing celibacy, she should give one measure of black sesame seeds, without negligence.

सघृतं सगुडं चैव ओदनं परमेष्ठिने दत्त्वा च ब्राह्मणेभ्यश् च यथा विभवविस्तरम्

She should offer rice cooked with ghee and sugar to the Supreme Lord, and also to the Brāhmaṇas, according to her means and capacity.

अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्याम् उपवासरता च सा भवान्या मोदते सार्धं सारूप्यं प्राप्य सुव्रता

On the eighth and fourteenth days, devoted to fasting, she rejoices with Bhavānī, attaining resemblance, being steadfast in her vows.

क्षमा सत्यं दया दानं शौचमिन्द्रियनिग्रहः सर्वव्रतेष्वयं धर्मः सामान्यो रुद्रपूजनम्

Forgiveness, truth, compassion, charity, purity, and control of the senses—this is the general dharma in all vows, and worship of Rudra.

समासाद्वः प्रवक्ष्यामि प्रतिमासमनुक्रमात् मार्गशीर्षकमासादिकार्त्तिकान्तं यथाक्रमम्

Having assembled, I will declare to you, in order, the sequence of images, from the month of Mārgaśīrṣa up to the end of Kārtika, as is proper.

व्रतं सुविपुलं पुण्यं नन्दिना परिभाषितम् मार्गशीर्षकमासे ऽथ वृषं पूर्णाङ्गमुत्तमम्

The great and holy vow described by Nandin is in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa; then, the excellent full-bodied bull should be offered.

अलंकृत्य यथान्यायं शिवाय विनिवेदयेत् सा च सार्धं भवान्या वै मोदते नात्र संशयः

Having adorned it properly, she should offer it to Śiva; she then rejoices together with Bhavānī, there is no doubt in this.

पुष्यमासे तु वै शूलं प्रतिष्ठाप्य निवेदयेत् पूर्वोक्तमखिलं कृत्वा भवान्या सह मोदते

In the month of Puṣya, she should establish and offer a trident; having performed all that was previously described, she rejoices together with Bhavānī.

माघमासे रथं कृत्वा सर्वलक्षणलक्षितम् दद्यात् सम्पूज्य देवेशं ब्राह्मणांश्चैव भोजयेत्

In the month of Māgha, having constructed a chariot adorned with all auspicious marks, one should offer it after duly worshipping the Lord of the gods, and should also feed the Brāhmaṇas.

सा च देव्या महाभागा मोदते नात्र संशयः फाल्गुने प्रतिमां कृत्वा हिरण्येन यथाविधि

That greatly fortunate Goddess is pleased—of this there is no doubt—when, in the month of Phālguna, an image is made according to rule out of gold.

राजतेनापि ताम्रेण यथाविभवविस्तरम् प्रतिष्ठाप्य समभ्यर्च्य स्थापयेच्छङ्करालये

Or with silver or copper, according to one's means and capacity, having established and duly worshipped it, one should install it in the temple of Śaṅkara.

सा च सार्धं महादेव्या मोदते नात्र संशयः चैत्रे भवं कुमारं च भवानीं च यथाविधि

She, together with the great Goddess, is pleased—there is no doubt of this—when, in the month of Chaitra, Bhava, Kumāra, and Bhavānī are made according to rule.

ताम्राद्यैर्विधिवत्कृत्वा प्रतिष्ठाप्य यथाविधि भवान्या मोदते सार्धं दत्त्वा रुद्राय शंभवे

Having made them properly from copper and other metals, and having established them according to rule, one attains joy with Bhavānī by offering them to Rudra, the Auspicious One.

कृत्वालयं हि कौबेरं राजतं रजतेन वै ईश्वरोमासमायुक्तं गणेशैश् च समन्ततः

Having constructed a Kubera-style house of silver, indeed from silver, with the Lord united with Umā and surrounded on all sides by Gaṇeśas,

सर्वरत्नसमायुक्तं प्रतिष्ठाप्य यथाविधि स्थापयेत्परमेशस्य भवस्यायतने शुभे

And endowed with all kinds of jewels, having established it according to rule, one should install it in the auspicious abode of the Supreme Lord Bhava.

वैशाखे वै चरेद् एवं कैलासाख्यं व्रतोत्तमम् कैलासपर्वतं प्राप्य भवान्या सह मोदते

In the month of Vaiśākha, one should perform in this way the supreme vow called Kailāsa; having reached Mount Kailāsa, one rejoices together with Bhavānī.

ज्येष्ठे मासि महादेवं लिङ्गमूर्तिमुमापतिम् कृताञ्जलिपुटेनैव ब्रह्मणा विष्णुना तथा

In the month of Jyeṣṭha, the great god, the form of the liṅga, the Lord of Umā, is to be worshipped with joined palms by Brahmā and also by Viṣṇu.

मध्ये भवेन संयुक्तं लिङ्गमूर्ति द्विजोत्तमाः हंसेन च वराहेण कृत्वा ताम्रादिभिः शुभाम्

In the midst, united with Bhava, the liṅga form, O best of twice-born, with a swan and a boar, having made it auspiciously from copper and other metals,

प्रतिष्ठाप्य यथान्यायं ब्राह्मणान् भोजयेत्ततः शिवाय शिवमासाद्य शिवस्थाने यथाविधि

Having established it according to proper procedure, one should then feed Brāhmaṇas; having attained Śiva for Śiva, in the abode of Śiva, as prescribed.

ब्राह्मणैः सहितां स्थाप्य देव्याः सायुज्यमाप्नुयात् आषाढे च शुभे मासे गृहं कृत्वा सुशोभनम्

Having installed it together with Brāhmaṇas, one attains union with the Goddess; and in the auspicious month of Āṣāḍha, having built a beautiful house,

पक्वेष्टकाभिर् विधिवद् यथाविभवविस्तरम् सर्वबीजरसैश्चापि सम्पूर्णं सर्वशोभनैः

With well-fired bricks, according to rule, as much as one's means allow, and filled with all kinds of grains and all that is auspicious,

गृहोपकरणैश्चैव मुसलोलूखलादिभिः दासीदासादिभिश्चैव शयनैरशनादिभिः

And with household implements such as pestles, mortars, and the like, with male and female servants, beds, seats, and so forth,

सम्पूर्णैश् च गृहं वस्त्रैर् आच्छाद्य च समन्ततः देवं घृतादिभिः स्नाप्य महादेवमुमापतिम्

Having covered the house completely with garments, and having bathed the god, the great Lord, the husband of Umā, with ghee and other substances,

ब्राह्मणानां सहस्रं च भोजयित्वा यथाविधि विद्याविनयसम्पन्नं ब्राह्मणं वेदपारगम्

Having fed a thousand Brāhmaṇas according to rule, and having honored a Brāhmaṇa endowed with learning and humility, one who has mastered the Vedas,

प्रथमाश्रमिणं भक्त्या सम्पूज्य च यथाविधि कन्यां सुमध्यमां यावत् कालजीवनसंयुताम्

And having worshipped with devotion, according to rule, a Brāhmaṇa in the first stage of life, one should offer a maiden of slender waist, endowed with the span of life,

क्षेत्रं गोमिथुनं चैव तद्गृहे च निवेदयेत् सायनैर् विविधैर् दिव्यैर् मेरुपर्वतसन्निभैः

And one should present a field, a pair of cows, and in that house, with various divine beds and seats resembling Mount Meru.

गोलोकं समनुप्राप्य भवान्या सह मोदते भवान्या सदृशीभूत्वा सर्वकल्पेषु साव्यया

Having reached Goloka, one delights together with Bhavānī, becoming equal to Bhavānī, imperishable in every age.

भवान्याश्चैव सायुज्यं लभते नात्र संशयः सर्वधातुसमाकीर्णं विचित्रध्वजशोभितम्

One attains union with Bhavānī—there is no doubt of this—amidst all elements, adorned with various splendid banners.