Linga Purana

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,

अनुगृह्य ततो दद्याच् छिवज्ञानम् अनुत्तमम् स्वरेणोच्चारयेत् सम्यग् एकान्ते ऽपि प्रसन्नधीः

Having blessed him, he should give the supreme knowledge of Śiva, pronouncing it clearly with his own voice, even in solitude, with a serene mind.

उच्चार्योच्चारयित्वा तु आचार्यः सिद्धिदः स्वयम् शिवं चास्तु शुभं चास्तु शोभनो ऽस्तु प्रियो ऽस्त्विति

Having pronounced it, the teacher himself grants success, saying: 'May Śiva be present, may auspiciousness be present, may beauty be present, may affection be present.'

एवं लब्ध्वा परं मन्त्रं ज्ञानं चैव गुरोस्ततः जपेन्नित्यं ससंकल्पं पुरश्चरणमेव च

Having thus obtained the supreme mantra and knowledge from the guru, one should recite it daily with intention, and perform the prescribed rites.

यावज्जीवं जपेन्नित्यम् अष्टोत्तरसहस्रकम् अनश्नंस्तत्परो भूत्वा स याति परमां गतिम्

One should recite it daily throughout life, one thousand and eight times, abstaining from food and being devoted; thus, he attains the highest state.

जपेदक्षरलक्षं वै चतुर्गुणितमादरात् नक्ताशी संयमी यश् च पौरश्चरणिकः स्मृतः

One who recites a hundred thousand syllables, or four times that amount, with devotion, observing night-fasting and self-restraint, is known as a performer of puraścaraṇa.

पुरश्चरणजापी वा अपि वा नित्यजापकः अचिरात्सिद्धिकाङ्क्षी तु तयोरन्यतरो भवेत्

Whether one performs puraścaraṇa recitation or is a daily reciter, either of these two quickly attains the desired accomplishment.

यः पुरश्चरणं कृत्वा नित्यजापी भवेन्नरः तस्य नास्ति समो लोके स सिद्धः सिद्धिदो वशी

A man who, having completed puraścaraṇa, becomes a daily reciter—there is no one equal to him in the world; he is accomplished, bestows accomplishment, and is self-controlled.

आसनं रुचिरं बद्ध्वा मौनी चैकाग्रमानसः प्राङ्मुखोदङ्मुखो वापि जपेन्मन्त्रमनुत्तमम्

Having arranged a pleasant seat, remaining silent, with mind concentrated, facing east or north, one should recite the supreme mantra.

आद्यान्तयोर् जपस्यापि कुर्याद्वै प्राणसंयमान् तथा चान्ते जपेद्बीजं शतमष्टोत्तरं शुभम्

At the beginning and end of the recitation, one should practice breath control, and at the end, recite the seed-mantra one hundred and eight times, which is auspicious.

चत्वारिंशत्समावृत्ति प्राणानायम्य संस्मरेत् पञ्चाक्षरस्य मन्त्रस्य प्राणायाम उदाहृतः

Having completed forty cycles of breath control, one should remember the five-syllable mantra; this is called prāṇāyāma.