Linga Purana

प्राङ्मुखोदङ्मुखो वापि न्यासकर्म समाचरेत् स्मरेत् पूर्वम् ऋषिं छन्दो दैवतं बीजमेव च

Facing east or north, one should perform the ritual of placement, first remembering the seer, the meter, the deity, and the seed-syllable.

शक्तिं च परमात्मानं गुरुं चैव वरानने मन्त्रेण पाणी संमृज्य तलयोः प्रणवं न्यसेत्

And also the power, the Supreme Self, and the teacher, O beautiful-faced one; rubbing the hands with the mantra, one should place the praṇava on both palms.

अङ्गुलीनां च सर्वेषां तथा चाद्यन्तपर्वसु सबिन्दुकानि बीजानि पञ्च मध्यमपर्वसु

On all the fingers, at the base and tip joints, and on the five middle joints, the seed-syllables with a dot should be placed.

उत्पत्त्यादित्रिभेदेन न्यसेदाश्रमतः क्रमात् उभाभ्यामेव पाणिभ्याम् आपादतलमस्तकम्

According to the threefold origin and so on, one should place them in order as prescribed for each stage of life, with both hands, from the soles of the feet to the crown of the head.

मन्त्रेण संस्पृशेद्देहं प्रणवेनैव संपुटम् मूर्ध्नि वक्त्रे च कण्ठे च हृदये गुह्यके तथा

Touching the body with the mantra, and enclosing it with the praṇava, one should place it on the head, mouth, throat, heart, and also the secret part.

पादयोर् उभयोश्चैव गुह्ये च हृदये तथा कण्ठे च मुखमध्ये च मूर्ध्नि च प्रणवादिकम्

On both feet, the secret part, the heart, the throat, the center of the mouth, and the head, one should place the praṇava and the others.

हृदये गुह्यके चैव पादयोर्मूर्ध्नि वाचि वा कण्ठे चैव न्यसेदेव प्रणवादित्रिभेदतः

On the heart, the secret part, the feet, the head, the speech, and the throat, one should place the praṇava and the others, according to the threefold distinction.

कृत्वाङ्गन्यासमेवं हि मुखानि परिकल्पयेत् पूर्वादि चोर्ध्वपर्यन्तं नकारादि यथाक्रमम्

Having thus performed the limb placement, one should arrange the faces, from the east and so on up to the uppermost, beginning with 'na' and so forth, in order.

षडङ्गानि न्यसेत्पश्चाद् यथास्थानं च शोभनम् नमः स्वाहा वषड्ढुं च वौषट्फट्कारकैः सह

Then, one should place the six limbs, beautifully, in their proper places, together with the syllables namaḥ, svāhā, vaṣaṭ, hūṃ, vauṣaṭ, and phaṭ.

प्रणवं हृदयं विद्यान् नकारः शिर उच्यते शिखा मकार आख्यातः शिकारः कवचं तथा

Know the praṇava as the heart, 'na' as the head, 'ma' as the crest, 'śi' as the hair tuft, and 'ka' as the armor.

आकारो नेत्रमस्त्रं तु यकारः परिकीर्तितः इत्थमङ्गानि विन्यस्य ततो वै बन्धयेद्दिशः

'A' is the eye, the weapon is 'ya' as it is called; having placed the limbs in this way, one should then seal the directions.

विघ्नेशो मातरो दुर्गा क्षेत्रज्ञो देवता दिशः आग्नेयादिषु कोणेषु चतुर्ष्वपि यथाक्रमम्

Ganesha, the Mothers, Durgā, the field-knower, and the deities of the directions—at the corners, beginning with the southeast, in all four, in order.

अङ्गुष्ठतर्जन्यग्राभ्यां संस्थाप्य सुमुखं शुभम् रक्षध्वमिति चोक्त्वा तु नमस्कुर्यात्पृथक्पृथक्

With the tips of the thumb and forefinger, one should establish the auspicious and beautiful face; saying, 'Protect!' one should bow separately to each.

गले मध्ये तथाङ्गुष्ठे तर्जन्याद्याङ्गुलीषु च अङ्गुष्ठेन करन्यासं कुर्यादेव विचक्षणः

At the middle of the throat, on the thumb, and on the forefinger and other fingers, the wise should perform the hand placement with the thumb.

एवं न्यासमिमं प्रोक्तं सर्वपापहरं शुभम् सर्वसिद्धिकरं पुण्यं सर्वरक्षाकरं शिवम्

Thus this placement has been described, which removes all sins, is auspicious, grants all accomplishments, brings merit, bestows all protection, and is auspicious.

न्यस्ते मन्त्रे ऽथ सुभगे शङ्करप्रतिमो भवेत् जन्मान्तरकृतं पापम् अपि नश्यति तत्क्षणात्

When the mantra is placed, O fortunate one, one becomes like Śaṅkara; even sin committed in previous births is destroyed at that very moment.

एवं विन्यस्य मेधावी शुद्धकायो दृढव्रतः जपेत्पञ्चाक्षरं मन्त्रं लब्ध्वाचार्यप्रसादतः

Thus, having placed it, the intelligent one, pure in body and firm in vow, should recite the five-syllabled mantra, having obtained the grace of the teacher.

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि मन्त्रसंग्रहणं शुभे यं विना निष्फलं नित्यं येन वा सफलं भवेत्

Next, I shall explain the collection of mantras, O auspicious one, without which daily practice is fruitless, but with which it becomes fruitful.

आज्ञाहीनं क्रियाहीनं श्रद्धाहीनम् अमानसम् आज्ञप्तं दक्षिणाहीनं सदा जप्तं च निष्फलम्

A mantra recited without command, without proper action, without faith, without sincerity, without instruction, without offering, and always recited is fruitless.

आज्ञासिद्धं क्रियासिद्धं श्रद्धासिद्धं सुमानसम् एवं च दक्षिणासिद्धं मन्त्रं सिद्धं यतस्ततः

A mantra accomplished by command, by proper action, by faith, by good mind, and by offering is successful in every way.

उपागम्य गुरुं विप्रं मन्त्रतत्त्वार्थवेदिनम् ज्ञानिनं सद्गुणोपेतं ध्यानयोगपरायणम्

Approaching a guru who is a learned brāhmaṇa, knowing the essence and meaning of mantras, wise, endowed with good qualities, and devoted to meditation and yoga,

तोषयेत्तं प्रयत्नेन भावशुद्धिसमन्वितः वाचा च मनसा चैव कायेन द्रविणेन च

One should please him with effort, accompanied by purity of heart, by speech, by mind, by body, and by wealth.

आचार्यं पूजयेच्छिष्यः सर्वदातिप्रयत्नतः हस्त्यश्वरथरत्नानि क्षेत्राणि च गृहाणि च

The disciple should always worship the teacher with utmost effort, offering elephants, horses, chariots, jewels, fields, and houses.

भूषणानि च वासांसि धान्यानि विविधानि च एतानि गुरवे दद्याद् भक्त्या च विभवे सति

He should also give ornaments, garments, and various grains to the guru with devotion, if he has the means.

वित्तशाठ्यं न कुर्वीत यदीच्छेत्सिद्धिमात्मनः पश्चान्निवेदयेद्देवि आत्मानं सपरिच्छदम्

He should not act with deceit regarding wealth if he desires his own accomplishment; afterwards, O goddess, he should dedicate himself and his possessions.

एवं सम्पूज्य विधिवद् यथाशक्ति त्ववञ्चयन् आददीत गुरोर्मन्त्रं ज्ञानं चैव क्रमेण तु

Thus, having worshipped properly, to the best of his ability and without deception, he should receive the mantra and knowledge from the guru in due order.

एवं तुष्टो गुरुः शिष्यं पूजितं वत्सरोषितम् शुश्रूषुम् अनहङ्कारम् उपवासकृशं शुचिम्

Thus, the satisfied guru, having been worshipped for a year, seeing the disciple attentive, humble, fasting, and pure,

स्नापयित्वा तु शिष्याय ब्राह्मणानपि पूज्य च समुद्रतीरे नद्यां च गोष्ठे देवालये ऽपि वा

Having bathed the disciple and worshipped the brāhmaṇas, whether at the seashore, by a river, in a cowshed, or in a temple,

शुचौ देशे गृहे वापि काले सिद्धिकरे तिथौ नक्षत्रे शुभयोगे च सर्वदा दोषवर्जिते

In a pure place, at home or elsewhere, at a time, date, constellation, or auspicious conjunction that brings accomplishment, always free from defects,