Linga Purana

कथं विनायको जातो गजवक्त्रो गणेश्वरः कथं प्रभावस्तस्यैवं सूत वक्तुमिहार्हसि

How did Vinayaka, the lord of the hosts, come to be born with the face of an elephant? How did his radiance arise thus? Suta, you ought to speak of this here.

एतस्मिन्नन्तरे देवाः सेन्द्रोपेन्द्राः समेत्य ते धर्मविघ्नं तदा कर्तुं दैत्यानामभवन्द्विजाः

Meanwhile, the gods, along with Indra and Upendra, gathered together, O twice-born, to create obstacles for the unrighteous deeds of the demons.

असुरा यातुधानाश् च राक्षसाः क्रूरकर्मिणः तामसाश् च तथा चान्ये राजसाश् च तथा भुवि

The asuras, yātudhānas, rākṣasas of cruel deeds, those of tamas, and others of rajas, likewise existed on earth.

अविघ्नं यज्ञदानाद्यैः समभ्यर्च्य महेश्वरम् ब्रह्माणं च हरिं विप्रा लब्धेप्सितवरा यतः

Having worshipped Maheshvara, Brahma, and Hari with uninterrupted offerings of sacrifice and charity, O brahmins, they obtained their desired boons.

ततो ऽस्माकं सुरश्रेष्ठाः सदा विजयसंभवः तेषां ततस्तु विघ्नार्थम् अविघ्नाय दिवौकसाम्

Therefore, O best of the gods, our perpetual victory was assured; but then, to create obstacles for them and to ensure uninterrupted success for the dwellers of heaven—

पुत्रार्थं चैव नारीणां नराणां कर्मसिद्धये विघ्नेशं शङ्करं स्रष्टुं गणपं स्तोतुमर्हथ

For the sake of sons for women, and for the accomplishment of deeds for men, you ought to create and praise Vighnesha Shankara, the lord of the hosts.

इत्युक्त्वान्योन्यमनघं तुष्टुवुः शिवमीश्वरम् नमः सर्वात्मने तुभ्यं सर्वज्ञाय पिनाकिने

Having spoken thus to one another, they praised Shiva, the Lord, saying: 'Salutations to you, the soul of all, the all-knowing, the wielder of the Pinaka.'

अनघाय विरिञ्चाय देव्याः कार्यार्थदायिने अकायायार्थकायाय हरेः कायापहारिणे

Salutations to the faultless one, to Virinchi, the giver of the fruits of actions for the goddess; to the bodiless and the one with purposeful form; to the remover of Hari’s form.

कायान्तस्थामृताधारमण्डलावस्थिताय ते कृतादिभेदकालाय कालवेगाय ते नमः

Salutations to you, who dwell within the circle of nectar at the core of the body; to you who distinguish the divisions of creation; to you, the force of time.

कालाग्निरुद्ररूपाय धर्माद्यष्टपदाय च कालीविशुद्धदेहाय कालिकाकारणाय ते

Salutations to you, whose form is Rudra, the fire of time; to you, the eightfold path beginning with dharma; to you, whose body is purified like Kali; to you, the cause of Kali.

कालकण्ठाय मुख्याय वाहनाय वराय ते अंबिकापतये तुभ्यं हिरण्यपतये नमः

Salutations to you, Kālakaṇṭha, the foremost, the vehicle, the excellent one; to you, the lord of Ambika; to you, the lord of gold.

हिरण्यरेतसे चैव नमः शर्वाय शूलिने कपालदण्डपाशासिचर्माङ्कुशधराय च

Salutations to you, whose seed is gold; to you, Sharva, the wielder of the trident; to you, who bear the skull, staff, noose, sword, hide, and goad.

पतये हैमवत्याश् च हेमशुक्लाय ते नमः पीतशुक्लाय रक्षार्थं सुराणां कृष्णवर्त्मने

Salutations to you, the lord of Hemavati; to you, golden-white; to you, yellow-white, for the protection of the gods; to you, whose path is dark.

पञ्चमाय महापञ्चयज्ञिनां फलदाय च पञ्चास्यफणिहाराय पञ्चाक्षरमयाय ते

Salutations to you, the fifth, the bestower of fruits to those who perform the five great sacrifices; to you, with five faces and serpent garlands; to you, composed of five syllables.

पञ्चधा पञ्चकैवल्यदेवैरर्चितमूर्तये पञ्चाक्षरदृशे तुभ्यं परात्परतराय ते

Salutations to you, whose form is worshipped by the fivefold, five-liberated gods; to you, whose vision is of the five syllables; to you, who are beyond the highest.

षोडशस्वरवज्राङ्गवक्त्रायाक्षयरूपिणे कादिपञ्चकहस्ताय चादिहस्ताय ते नमः

Salutations to you, whose face and limbs are like sixteen thunderbolts, whose form is imperishable; to you, whose hands hold the fivefold beginning with 'ka'; to you, whose hands are the beginning.

टादिपादाय रुद्राय तादिपादाय ते नमः पादिमेण्ढ्राय यद्यङ्गधातुसप्तकधारिणे

Salutations to you, Rudra, whose feet begin with 'ṭa'; to you, whose feet begin with 'ta'; to you, whose feet are the base; to you, who bear the seven elements of the body.

शान्तात्मरूपिणे साक्षात् क्षदन्तक्रोधिने नमः लवरेफहलाङ्गाय निरङ्गाय च ते नमः

Salutations to you, whose nature is tranquil, who are directly the destroyer of anger and desire, to you who are the sound 'la', the letter 'ra', and the consonant 'pha', and who are without limbs—salutations to you.

सर्वेषाम् एव भूतानां हृदि निःस्वनकारिणे भ्रुवोर् अन्ते सदा सद्भिर् दृष्टायात्यन्तभानवे

To the one who causes the inner sound in the hearts of all beings, who is always seen by the wise at the end of the brows as the supreme radiance.

भानुसोमाग्निनेत्राय परमात्मस्वरूपिणे गुणत्रयोपरिस्थाय तीर्थपादाय ते नमः

Salutations to you, whose eyes are the sun, moon, and fire, who are the supreme Self, who stand above the three qualities, whose feet are holy places.

तीर्थतत्त्वाय साराय तस्मादपि पराय ते ऋग्यजुःसामवेदाय ओंकाराय नमो नमः

Salutations again and again to you, who are the essence of the truth of holy places, who are beyond even that, who are the Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas, who are the syllable Om.

ओङ्कारे त्रिविधं रूपम् आस्थायोपरिवासिने पीताय कृष्णवर्णाय रक्तायात्यन्ततेजसे

Assuming the threefold form in Om, abiding above, you are yellow, black, and red, of supreme brilliance.

स्थानपञ्चकसंस्थाय पञ्चधाण्डबहिः क्रमात् ब्रह्मणे विष्णवे तुभ्यं कुमाराय नमोनमः

Salutations again and again to you, who are established in the five stations, who are outside the five eggs in order, who are Brahma, Vishnu, and Kumara.

अंबायाः परमेशाय सर्वोपरिचराय ते मूलसूक्ष्मस्वरूपाय स्थूलसूक्ष्माय ते नमः

Salutations to you, the supreme Lord of Ambā, who surpasses all, whose form is the subtle root, who are both gross and subtle.

सर्वसंकल्पशून्याय सर्वस्माद्रक्षिताय ते आदिमध्यान्तशून्याय चित्संस्थाय नमोनमः

Salutations again and again to you, who are devoid of all intentions, who protect all, who are without beginning, middle, or end, who abide in consciousness.

यमाग्निवायुरुद्रांबुसोमशक्रनिशाचरैः दिङ्मुखे दिङ्मुखे नित्यं सगणैः पूजिताय ते

To you who are always worshipped in every direction by Yama, Agni, Vāyu, Rudra, Water, Soma, Indra, and the night-walkers, together with their hosts.

सर्वेषु सर्वदा सर्वमार्गे सम्पूजिताय ते रुद्राय रुद्रनीलाय कद्रुद्राय प्रचेतसे महेश्वराय धीराय नमः साक्षाच्छिवाय ते

Salutations to you, who are always worshipped everywhere, on every path, to Rudra, the blue-throated, the fierce, the wise, the great Lord, the manifest Shiva.

मखमदनयमाग्निदक्षयज्ञक्षपणविचित्रविचेष्टितं क्षमस्व

Forgive the various actions performed in the sacrifices of Makha, Madana, Yama, Agni, and Daksha.

यः पठेत्तु स्तवं भक्त्या शक्राग्निप्रमुखैः सुरैः कीर्तितं श्रावयेद्विद्वान् स याति परमां गतिम्

Whoever recites this hymn with devotion, which is praised by the gods led by Indra and Agni, or has it heard by the learned, attains the supreme state.