Linga Purana

खिन्नस्य धारणायोगाद् वायुरूर्ध्वं प्रवर्तते ततश्चापूरयेद् देहम् ओङ्कारेण समन्वितः

For one who is fatigued from lack of concentration, the breath moves upward; then, one should fill the body, accompanied by the syllable Om.

तथौंकारमयो योगी अक्षरे त्वक्षरी भवेत् अत ऊर्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि ओङ्कारप्राप्तिलक्षणम्

Thus, the yogi becomes composed of Om; in the imperishable, he becomes imperishable. Next, I will explain the characteristics of attaining Om.

एष त्रिमात्रो विज्ञेयो व्यञ्जनं चात्र चेश्वरः प्रथमा विद्युती मात्रा द्वितीया तामसी स्मृता

This is to be known as having three measures, and the consonant here is the Lord; the first measure is said to be like lightning, the second is remembered as tamasic.

तृतीयां निर्गुणां चैव मात्रामक्षरगामिनीम् गान्धारी चैव विज्ञेया गान्धारस्वरसंभवा

The third measure is indeed without qualities, leading to the imperishable; it is also to be known as Gandhari, arising from the Gandhara note.

पिपीलिकागतिस्पर्शा प्रयुक्ता मूर्ध्नि लक्ष्यते यथा प्रयुक्त ओङ्कारः प्रतिनिर्याति मूर्धनि

Applied with the touch of an ant's gait, it is perceived at the crown; just as Om is applied, it proceeds outward at the crown.

तथौंकारमयो योगी त्व् अक्षरी त्वक्षरी भवेत् प्रणवो धनुः शरो ह्यात्मा ब्रह्मलक्षणमुच्यते

Thus, the yogi becomes composed of Om; in the imperishable, he becomes imperishable. The Pranava is the bow, the self is truly the arrow, and Brahman is said to be the target.

अप्रमत्तेन वेद्धव्यं शरवत् तन्मयो भवेत् ओमित्येकाक्षरं ह्येतद् गुहायां निहितं पदम्

It must be pierced by one who is vigilant, just as with an arrow; he should become one with that. This single syllable 'Om' is the hidden goal within the cave (of the heart).

ओमित्येतत्त्रयो लोकास् त्रयो वेदास्त्रयो ऽग्नयः विष्णुक्रमास्त्रयस्त्वेते ऋक्सामानि यजूंषि च

'Om'—these are the three worlds, the three Vedas, the three fires; these are also the three steps of Vishnu, and the Rk, Saman, and Yajus hymns.

मात्रा चार्धं च तिस्रस्तु विज्ञेयाः परमार्थतः तत्प्रयुक्तस्तु यो योगी तस्य सालोक्यमाप्नुयात्

The three measures and the half-measure are to be truly understood; the yogi who applies that attains union with that world.

अकारो ह्यक्षरो ज्ञेय उकारः सहितः स्मृतः मकारसहितौंकारस् त्रिमात्र इति संज्ञितः

The syllable 'a' is to be known as imperishable, 'u' is remembered as joined with it, and 'm' together with 'a' and 'u'—thus Om is called three-measured.

अकारस् त्वेष भूर्लोक उकारो भुव उच्यते सव्यञ्जनो मकारस्तु स्वर्लोक इति गीयते

The syllable 'a' is indeed the earth world, 'u' is said to be the atmosphere, and the consonant 'm' is sung as the heaven world.

ओङ्कारस्तु त्रयो लोकाः शिरस्तस्य त्रिविष्टपम् भुवनाङ्गं च तत्सर्वं ब्राह्मं तत्पदमुच्यते

Om is the three worlds; its head is the highest heaven. All the limbs of the worlds are said to be that Brahman, that supreme state.

मात्रापादो रुद्रलोको ह्य् अमात्रं तु शिवं पदम् एवं ज्ञानविशेषेण तत्पदं समुपास्यते

The measureless part is the world of Rudra; the part without measure is the state of Shiva. Thus, by special knowledge, that state is to be worshipped.

तस्माद्ध्यानरतिर्नित्यम् अमात्रं हि तदक्षरम् उपास्यं हि प्रयत्नेन शाश्वतं सुखमिच्छता

Therefore, one who always delights in meditation should worship that measureless, imperishable syllable with effort, desiring eternal happiness.

ह्रस्वा तु प्रथमा मात्रा ततो दीर्घा त्वनन्तरम् ततः प्लुतवती चैव तृतीया चोपदिश्यते

The first measure is short, then the second is long, and then the third is taught as protracted.

एतास्तु मात्रा विज्ञेया यथावदनुपूर्वशः यावदेव तु शक्यन्ते धार्यन्ते तावदेव हि

These measures are to be understood precisely and in order; as much as can be sustained, only that should be practiced.

इन्द्रियाणि मनो बुद्धिं ध्यायन्नात्मनि यः सदा अर्धं तन्मात्रम् अपि चेच् छृणु यत् फलमाप्नुयात्

Whoever always meditates within himself on the senses, mind, and intellect, even for half a measure—listen to the result he attains.

मासे मासे ऽश्वमेधेन यो यजेत शतं समाः तेन यत्प्राप्यते पुण्यं मात्रया तदवाप्नुयात्

The merit gained by one who, month after month, performs the Aśvamedha sacrifice for a hundred years—that very merit is obtained by practicing the measure.

न तथा तपसोग्रेण न यज्ञैर्भूरिदक्षिणैः यत्फलं प्राप्यते सम्यङ् मात्रया तदवाप्नुयात्

Not by severe austerity, nor by sacrifices with abundant gifts, is the fruit attained that is gained by properly practicing the measure.

तत्र चैषा तु या मात्रा प्लुता नामोपदिश्यते एषा एव भवेत्कार्या गृहस्थानां तु योगिनाम्

Among these, the measure called 'pluta' is prescribed; this alone should be practiced by householders and yogins.

एषां चैव विशेषेण ऐश्वर्ये ह्यष्टलक्षणे अणिमाद्ये तु विज्ञेया तस्माद्युञ्जीत तां द्विजाः

Especially among these, in the eightfold powers beginning with aṇimā, this measure is to be known; therefore, O twice-born, practice it.

एवं हि योगसंयुक्तः शुचिर् दान्तो जितेन्द्रियः आत्मानं विद्यते यस्तु स सर्वं विन्दते द्विजाः

Thus, one united with yoga, pure, self-controlled, and master of the senses, who knows the self, O twice-born, attains all.

तस्मात्पाशुपतैर्योगैर् आत्मानं चिन्तयेद्बुधः आत्मानं जानते ये तु शुचयस्ते न संशयः

Therefore, the wise should contemplate the self by means of Pāśupata yogas; those pure ones who know the self, of them there is no doubt.

ऋचो यजूंषि सामानि वेदोपनिषदस् तथा योगज्ञानादवाप्नोति ब्राह्मणो ऽध्यात्मचिन्तकः

A Brāhmaṇa devoted to contemplation of the self attains the Ṛg, Yajur, and Sāma Vedas, the Upaniṣads, and also the knowledge born of yoga.

सर्वदेवमयो भूत्वा अभूतः स तु जायते योनिसंक्रमणं त्यक्त्वा याति वै शाश्वतं पदम्

Becoming one with all the gods, he is born no more; abandoning passage through the womb, he attains the eternal state.

यथा वृक्षात् फलं पक्वं पवनेन समीरितम् नमस्कारेण रुद्रस्य तथा पापं प्रणश्यति

Just as a ripe fruit falls from a tree when stirred by the wind, so does sin perish by salutation to Rudra.

यत्र रुद्रनमस्कारः सर्वकर्मफलो ध्रुवः अन्यदेवनमस्कारान् न तत्फलमवाप्नुयात्

Where there is salutation to Rudra, the result of all actions is certain; by salutation to other gods, that fruit is not obtained.

तस्मात्त्रिःप्रवणं योगी उपासीत महेश्वरम् दशविस्तारकं ब्रह्म तथा च ब्रह्मविस्तरैः

Therefore, the yogin should worship the great Lord three times a day, and Brahman of tenfold extent, as well as by the extensions of Brahman.

एवं ध्यानसमायुक्तः स्वदेहं यः परित्यजेत् स याति शिवसायुज्यं समुद्धृत्य कुलत्रयम्

Thus, one endowed with meditation who abandons his own body attains union with Śiva, uplifting the three families.