Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

पञ्चाक्षरेणजप्तंचतोयमन्नंविदुः सुखम् अथवा ऽहुर्दरिद्रस्यभिक्षान्नंज्ञानदंभवेत्

Water or food over which the five-syllable mantra has been recited is considered auspicious; or, it is said, even the alms-food of a poor person can grant knowledge.

शिवभक्तस्यभिक्षान्नंशिवभक्तिविवर्धनम् शंभुसत्रमितिप्राहुर्भिक्षान्नंशिवयोगिनः

The alms-food of a devotee of Shiva increases devotion to Shiva; the alms-food of a Shiva yogi is called the thread of Shambhu, so it is said.

येनकेनाप्युपायेनयत्रकुत्रापिभूतले शुद्धान्नभुक्सदामौनीरहस्यं न प्रकाशयेत्

By whatever means, wherever on earth, one should always eat pure food in silence, and should not reveal the secret.

प्रकाशयेत्तुभक्तानांशिवमाहात्म्यमेवहि रहस्यंशिवमंत्रस्यशिवोजानातिनापरः

But one should indeed reveal only the greatness of Shiva to devotees; the secret of the Shiva mantra is known only by Shiva, not by another.

शिवभक्तोवसेन्नित्यंशिवलिंगंसमाश्रितः स्थाणुलिंगाश्रयेणैवस्थाणुर्भवतिभूसुराः

A devotee of Shiva should always reside, taking refuge in the Shiva liṅga; by taking refuge in the immovable liṅga, the wise become steadfast.

पूजयाचरलिंगस्यक्रमान्मुक्तोभवेद्ध्रुवम् सर्वमुक्तंसमासेनसाध्यसाधनमुत्तमम्

By worshipping the liṅga in due order, one certainly becomes liberated; in brief, all is liberated—this is the highest means and goal.

व्यासेनयत्पुराप्रोक्तंयच्छ्रुतंहिमयापुरा भद्रमस्तुहिवो ऽस्माकं शिवभक्तिर्दृढा ऽस्तुसा

What was formerly spoken by Vyasa and heard by me in ancient times—may there be well-being for us, and may our devotion to Shiva be firm.

य इमंपठते ऽध्यायं यः शृणोति नरः सदा शिवज्ञानंसलभतेशिवस्यकृपयाबुधाः

Whoever recites or always listens to this chapter, O wise ones, attains knowledge of Shiva by Shiva’s grace.

सूतसूतचिरंजीवधन्यस्त्वंशिवभक्तिमान् सम्यगुक्तस्त्वयालिंगमहिमासत्फलप्रदः

O Suta, long may you live! You are blessed and devoted to Shiva. You have rightly spoken of the greatness of the liṅga, which bestows the highest fruit.

यत्रपार्थिवमाहेशलिंगस्यमहिमाधुना सर्वोत्कृष्टश्चकथितोव्यासतोब्रूहितंपुनः

Now, tell again the supreme greatness of the earthly liṅga of Mahesha, which was previously described by Vyasa.

शृणुध्वमृषयः सर्वे सद्भक्त्या हरतो खिलाः शिवपार्थिवलिंगस्यमहिमाप्रोच्यतेमया

O sages, listen all with true devotion as I now relate the greatness of the earthly liṅga of Shiva.

उक्तेष्वेतेषु लिंगेषु पार्थिवं लिंगमुत्तमम् तस्यपूजनतोविप्राबहवः सिद्धिमागताः

Among all these liṅgas, the earthly liṅga is the highest; by worshipping it, many brahmins have attained perfection.

हरिर्ब्रह्मा च ऋषयः सप्रजापतयस्तथा संपूज्य पार्थिवंलिंगंप्रापुःसर्वेप्सितंद्विजाः

Hari, Brahma, the sages, and the Prajapatis, having worshipped the earthly liṅga, all attained their desired goals, O twice-born.

देवासुरमनुष्याश्चगंधर्वोरगराक्षसाः अन्येपिबहवस्तंसंपूज्यसिद्धिंगताःपरम्

Gods, asuras, humans, gandharvas, serpents, and rākṣasas, and many others, having worshipped that, attained the highest perfection.

कृतेरत्नमयंलिंगंत्रेतायांहेमसंभवम् द्वापरेपारदंश्रेष्ठंपार्थिवंतुकलौयुगे

In the Kṛta age, the liṅga was made of gems; in the Tretā, it was of gold; in the Dvāpara, the best was of mercury; but in the Kali age, it is earthly.

अष्टमूर्तिषुसर्वासुमूर्तिर्वैपार्थिवीवराः अनन्यपूजिताविप्रास्तपस्तस्मान्महत्फलम्

Among all the eight forms, the earthly form is supreme; O brahmins, worshipped with undivided devotion, it yields great fruit through austerity.

यथासर्वेषुदेवेषुज्येष्ठःश्रेष्ठोमहेश्वरः एवंसर्वेषु लिंगेषुपार्थिवंश्रेष्टमुच्यते

Just as among all the gods, Maheshvara is the eldest and greatest, so among all liṅgas, the earthly one is said to be the best.

यथानदीषुसर्वासुज्येष्ठाश्रेष्ठासुरापगा तथासर्वेषुलिंगेषुपार्थिवंश्रेष्ठमुच्यते

Just as among all rivers, the Ganges is considered the greatest and most excellent, so among all liṅgas, the earthly (pārthiva) liṅga is said to be supreme.

यथासर्वेषुमंत्रेषुप्रणवो हि महान्स्मृतः तथेदंपार्थिवंश्रेष्ठमाराध्यंपूज्यमेवहि

Just as among all mantras, praṇava (Om) is remembered as the greatest, so this earthly liṅga is indeed the highest, most worthy of worship and veneration.

यथासर्वेषुवर्णेषुब्राह्मणःश्रेष्ठ उच्यते तथासर्वेषुलिंगेषुपार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते

Just as among all castes, the brāhmaṇa is regarded as the best, so among all liṅgas, the earthly one is said to be supreme.

यथापुरीषुसर्वासुकाशीश्रेष्ठतमास्मृता तथासर्वेषुलिंगेषुपार्थिवंश्रेष्ठमुच्यते

Just as among all cities, Kāśī is remembered as the most excellent, so among all liṅgas, the earthly one is said to be supreme.

यथाव्रतेषुसर्वेषुशिवरात्रिव्रतंपरम् तथासर्वेषुलिंगेषुपार्थिवंश्रेष्थमुच्यते

Just as among all vows, the Śivarātri vow is considered the highest, so among all liṅgas, the earthly one is said to be supreme.

यथादेवीषुसर्वासुशैवीशक्तिः परास्मृता तथा सर्वेषु लिंगेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्ठमुच्यते

Just as among all goddesses, the Śaiva power (Śakti) is remembered as the highest, so among all liṅgas, the earthly one is said to be supreme.

प्रकृत्यपार्थिवंलिंगंयोन्यदेवंप्रपूजयेत् वृथा भवति सा पूजा स्नानदानादिकंवृथा

If, by nature, one worships a liṅga that is not earthly, that worship becomes fruitless, as do bathing, giving, and other such acts.

पार्थिवाराधनंपुण्यंधन्यमायुर्विवर्धनम् तुष्टिदंपुष्टिदंश्रीदंकार्यंसाधकसत्तमैः

The worship of the earthly liṅga brings merit, prosperity, and increases lifespan; it grants satisfaction, nourishment, and wealth, and should be performed by the best of practitioners.

यथालब्धोपचारैश्चभक्त्या श्रद्धासमन्वितः पूजयेत्पार्थिवं लिंगं सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिदम्

With whatever offerings are available, and endowed with devotion and faith, one should worship the earthly liṅga, which grants the fulfillment of all desires and aims.

यःकृत्वापार्थिवंलिंगेपूजयेच्छुभवेदिकम् इहैवधनवाञ्छ्रीमानंतेरुद्रोभिजायते

Whoever, having made an earthly liṅga, worships it on an auspicious altar, becomes wealthy and prosperous here itself, and is born as a Rudra.

त्रिसंध्यंयोर्चयंल्लिंगंकृत्वाबिल्वेनपार्थिवम् दशैकादशकंयावत्तस्यपुण्यफलंशृणु

One who worships the liṅga made of earth with bilva leaves at the three junctions of the day—listen to the merit gained by doing this ten or eleven times.

अनेनैव स्वदेहेन रुद्रलोकेमहीयते पापहं सर्वमर्त्यानां दर्शनात्स्पर्शनादपि

By this very body, one attains greatness in the world of Rudra; it destroys all the sins of mortals, even by seeing or touching it.