ಲಿಙ್ಗಪುರಾಣಮ್

ಒಂದು ಪವಿತ್ರ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ, ದೇವತೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಮಹರ್ಷಿಗಳು ಶಿವನ ಮಹಿಮೆಯನ್ನು ಕುರಿತು ಚರ್ಚಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಆ ಸಮಯದಲ್ಲಿ, ದೇವರು ಚತುರ್ಮುಖ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮನನ್ನು ತನ್ನ ರಥದ ಸಾಗಣಿಯಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಂಡು, ಅದ್ಭುತ ರೂಪವನ್ನು ಧರಿಸಿ, ಶಿವನ ನಗರಕ್ಕೆ ಹರ್ಷದಿಂದ ಪ್ರಯಾಣಮಾಡಿದರು. ಅಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ತಲುಪಿದ ನಂತರ, ಅವರು ನಿರ್ವಿಕಲ್ಪವಾಗಿ ಮತ್ತೊಬ್ಬ ಶಂಕರನಂತೆ ಆ ಸ್ಥಳದಲ್ಲಿ ಆಡುವಂತೆ, ಅನೇಕ ಸುಖಗಳನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ. ಎಷ್ಟೋ ಕಾಲ ತನ್ನ ಇಚ್ಛೆಯಂತೆ ಆನಂದವನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸಿ, ಅಂತಿಮವಾಗಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿತ ಜ್ಞಾನವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದು, ಅಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಮುಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಸಾಧಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ. ಆಗ ಗಂಗಾಧರನು, ಚಂದ್ರಶೇಖರನು, ಗಂಗೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ, ಅಂಬಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ಎಡ ತೊಡೆಯ ಮೇಲೆ ಕುಡಿಸಿ, ಗಣೇಶನು, ಸ್ಕಂದನು, ಜ್ಯೇಷ್ಠಾ ಮತ್ತು ಸುಂದರ ದುರ್ಗಾ, ಭಾಸ್ಕರ ಮತ್ತು ಸೋಮ, ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣಿ ಮತ್ತು ಮಹೇಶ್ವರಿ, ಕೌಮಾರಿ, ವೈಷ್ಣವಿ, ವರಾಹಿ ಮತ್ತು ವರದಾ, ಇಂದ್ರಾಣಿ ಮತ್ತು ಚಾಮುಂಡಾ, ವೀರಭದ್ರನೊಂದಿಗೆ, ವಿಘ್ನೇಶನೊಂದಿಗೆ—all these divine beings gathered together. Whoever is wise attains union with Shiva amidst this divine assembly. ಅ imperishable linga, surrounded by a great garland of flames, is established with Chandrashekhara, the Lord, in its center. In the sky, the linga is made; Brahma, in the form of a swan, and Vishnu, as a boar, are placed below, facing downward. Brahma stands to the right, palms joined in reverence, while this great and terrible linga is established amidst the vast waters. With devotion, one creates and establishes the protector of the field, the Lord of the Pashupatas, thereby attaining union with Shiva. Whoever builds with devotion, according to proper procedure, is honored in Shiva’s world. The merit of establishing a linga, installing it, and the various kinds of lingas—all these teachings have been imparted. Now, what fruit does a mortal gain by building a temple for Shiva, whether from clay or precious gems? Even if a devotee is troubled by children, spouse, home, and such worldly matters, if he possesses true knowledge, these houses have little value to him. Yet, devotees of the Supreme Lord—even if they build a temple with mere clods or bricks—are elevated to Rudra’s divine world, to magnificent palaces honored by Indra, Brahma, and others. The house of such a person, having worshipped Shambhu thus, attains the state of Rudra. Therefore, with every effort and devotion, devotees should build Shiva’s temple, striving with diligence for righteousness, desire, and wealth. Whether in Kesara, Nagara, Dravida, or any other style, whoever builds a temple for Rudra with devotion is honored in Shiva’s world. Whoever constructs a temple for the Supreme Lord called Kailasa, with palaces shaped like Kailasa’s peaks, enjoys happiness. Or, if one builds a Mandara for Shiva, according to prescribed rules and with devotion—be it superior, inferior, or middling—palaces resembling Mandara mountain, facing all directions, filled with apsarases, and unattainable even by gods and demons, are attained. Having reached the delightful city of Shiva, enjoying pleasures as desired, and attaining union with knowledge and yoga, a mortal attains the state of Ganapati. Whoever builds a temple for the Supreme Lord named Meru attains a fruit superior to all great sacrifices. The fruit gained from all sacrifices, austerities, gifts, pilgrimages, and Vedas—having attained all that, he delights in Shiva’s forest for a long time. Whoever, with devotion, builds a temple named Nishadha, that wise one, having reached Shiva’s world, delights in Shiva’s forest for a long time. Or, whoever builds the excellent Himashaila, traveling to Shiva’s auspicious city in vehicles resembling the snowy mountain, attains union with knowledge and yoga, and obtains the state of Ganapati. Or, whoever builds a beautiful temple named Niladrishikhara, according to his means and with devotion to Rudra Shambhu, attains great fruit. The fruit previously described for building Himashaila with devotion—all that fruit is gained, and he is honored by all the gods. Having reached Rudra’s world, he rejoices among the Rudras. Or, having built a temple named Mahendrashaila, approved by Rudra, the fruit obtained is palaces shaped like Mahendra mountain, adorned with bulls. Having gone to Shiva’s divine city, enjoying pleasures as desired, the foremost sages, having attained the knowledge discerned by the Rudras, return. Abandoning sense objects as one would poison, one attains union with Shiva. Whoever constructs a temple adorned with jewels out of gold—whether Dravidian, Nagara, Kesara style, or prescribed forms, whether a tower, pavilion, square or elongated—its merit cannot be described, not even in a hundred ages. Whether it becomes old, falls, breaks, or cracks—whoever restores it as before, with beautiful doors and the like, whether a temple, pavilion, enclosure, or gateway—obtains even greater merit than the original builder. Or, if a person works in Shiva’s temple for livelihood, he and his relatives surely go to the heavenly world. Even if one acts in Rudra’s temple for personal enjoyment, if he performs work and, having obtained happiness, rejoices—therefore, O best of sages, whoever builds a shrine with devotion attains great merit and divine blessings. ಈ ರೀತಿ, ಶಿವನ ದೇವಾಲಯ ನಿರ್ಮಾಣದ ಮಹತ್ವವನ್ನು, ಅದರ ಫಲವನ್ನು, ಮತ್ತು ಶಿವನ ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ದೊರಕುವ ಗೌರವವನ್ನು ಪವಿತ್ರ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಗಳು ವಿವರಿಸುತ್ತವೆ.