Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

रसाय नायते नित्यमपथ्यमपि सेवितम् अनिशं क्रियमाणापि रतिस्त्वभिनवायते

Even what is always unwholesome, if consumed, becomes nourishing; and even if indulged in constantly, pleasure always feels new.

अनागतादिकं सर्वं करस्थामलकायते यादृच्छिकफलायन्ते सिद्धयो ऽप्यणिमादयः

All things past, future, and present become as clear as a fruit in the palm; even the attainments like aṇimā come as chance results.

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन सर्वकामार्थसिद्धिषु अस्मिन्कर्मणि निर्वृत्ते त्वनवाप्यं न विद्यते

Why say more? In the accomplishment of all desires and aims, when this act is completed, there is nothing unattainable.

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि केवलामुष्मिकं विधिम् नैतेन सदृशं किंचित्कर्मास्ति भुवनत्रये

Now I will explain the purely otherworldly rite; there is no act in the three worlds equal to this.

पुण्यातिशयसंयुक्तः सर्वैर्देवैरनुष्ठितः ब्रह्मणा विष्णुना चैव रुद्रेण च विशेषतः

Endowed with supreme merit, it has been performed by all the gods—by Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and especially by Rudra.

इंद्रादिलोकपारैश्च सूर्याद्यैर्नवभिर्ग्रहैः विश्वामित्रवसिष्ठाद्यैर्ब्रह्मविद्भिर्महर्षिभिः

By Indra and the other guardians of the worlds, by the nine planets beginning with the Sun, by sages like Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha, knowers of Brahman.

श्वेतागस्त्यदधीचाद्यैरस्माभिश्च शिवाश्रितैः नंदीश्वरमहाकालभृंगीशाद्यैर्गणेश्वरैः

By Śvetāśvatara, Agastya, Dadhīci, and others, by us who are devoted to Śiva, and by the lords of the gaṇas such as Nandīśvara, Mahākāla, and Bhṛṅgi.

पातालवासिभिर्दैत्यैः शेषाद्यैश्च महोरगैः सिद्धैर्यक्षैश्च गंधर्वै रक्षोभूतपिशाचकैः

By the Daityas dwelling in the netherworlds, by the great serpents such as Shesha, by Siddhas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, and by Rakshasas, Bhutas, and Pisachas,

स्वंस्वं पदमनुप्राप्तं सर्वैरयमनुष्ठितः अनेन विधिना सर्वे देवा देवत्वमागताः

Each attained their own proper station; all performed this rite. By this method, all the gods attained their divinity.

ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मत्वमापन्नो विष्णुर्विष्णुत्वमागतः रुद्रो रुद्रत्वमापन्न इंद्रश्चेन्द्रत्वमागतः

Brahma attained the state of Brahma, Vishnu attained the state of Vishnu, Rudra attained the state of Rudra, and Indra attained the state of Indra.

गणेशश्च गणेशत्वमनेन विधिना गतः सितचंदनतोयेन लिंगं स्नाप्य शिवं शिवाम् श्वेतैर्विकसितैः पद्मैः संपूज्य प्रणिपत्य च

And likewise Ganesha attained the state of Ganesha by this method: bathing the Shiva Linga with cool sandalwood water, worshipping with white, fully-bloomed lotuses, and bowing down.

तत्र पद्मासनं रम्यं कृत्वा लक्षणसंयुतम् विभवे सति हेमाद्यै रत्नाद्यैर्वा स्वशक्तितः

There, a beautiful lotus-seat should be prepared, adorned with auspicious marks, and, if able, made of gold or other gems, or according to one's capacity.

मध्ये केसरजालास्य स्थाप्य लिंगं कनीयसम् अंगुष्ठप्रतिमं रम्यं सर्वगन्धमयं शुभम्

In the center of the lotus filaments, the small Linga should be placed, charming and auspicious, about the size of a thumb, and made of all fragrant substances.

दक्षिणे स्थापयित्वा तु बिल्वपत्रैः समर्चयेत् अगुरुं दक्षिणे पार्श्वे पश्चिमे तु मनःशिलाम्

Having placed it on the right, it should be worshipped with bilva leaves; aguru should be placed on the right side, and on the west, realgar.

उत्तरे चंदनं दद्याद्धरितालं तु पूर्वतः सुगन्धैः कुसुमै रम्यैर्विचित्रैश्चापि पूजयेत्

On the north, one should offer sandalwood; on the east, yellow orpiment. It should be worshipped with fragrant, delightful, and various flowers.

धूपं कृष्णागुरुं दद्यात्सर्वतश्च सगुग्गुलम् वासांसि चातिसूक्ष्माणि विकाशानि निवेदयेत्

Incense of black aguru should be offered everywhere, together with guggul. Very fine and lustrous garments should be presented.

पायसं घृतसंमिश्रं घृतदीपांश्च दापयेत् सर्वं निवेद्य मन्त्रेण ततो गच्छेत्प्रदक्षिणाम्

Rice pudding mixed with ghee and ghee lamps should be offered. Having presented everything with mantra, one should then perform circumambulation.

प्रणम्य भक्त्या देवेशं स्तुत्वा चान्ते क्षमापयेत् सर्वोपहारसंमिश्रं ततो लिंगं निवेदयेत्

After bowing with devotion to the Lord of gods and offering praise, at the end one should ask forgiveness and then present the Linga with all the offerings combined.

शिवाय शिवमन्त्रेण दक्षिणामूर्तिमाश्रितः एवं यो ऽर्चयते नित्यं पञ्चगन्धमयं शुभम्

With the Shiva mantra, devoted to the southern aspect, whoever worships daily the auspicious Linga made of five fragrances in this way,

सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवलोके महीयते एतद्व्रतोत्तमं गुह्यं शिवलिंगमहाव्रतम्

Freed from all sins, he is honored in the world of Shiva. This supreme and secret vow, the great vow of the Shiva Linga,

भक्तस्य ते समाख्यातं न देयं यस्य कस्यचित् देयं च शिवभक्तेभ्यः शिवेन कथितं पुरा

Has been explained to you, the devotee; it should not be given to just anyone. It should be given only to devotees of Shiva, as was told by Shiva in ancient times.

नित्यनैमित्तिकात्काम्याद्या सिद्धिरिह कीर्तिता सा सर्वा लभ्येत सद्यो लिंगबेरप्रतिष्ठया

Success in all daily, occasional, and desired rites is declared here; all of it is immediately obtained by the establishment of the Linga image.

सर्वो लिंगमयो लोकस्सर्वं लिंगे प्रतिष्ठितम् तस्मात्प्रतिष्ठिते लिंगे भवेत्सर्वं पतिष्ठितम्

The whole world is pervaded by the Linga; everything is established in the Linga. Therefore, when the Linga is established, everything is established.

ब्रह्मणा विष्णुना वापि रुद्रेणान्येन केन वा लिंगप्रतिष्ठामुत्सृज्य क्रियते स्वपदस्थितिः

Whether by Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, or any other, abandoning the establishment of the Linga, one performs their own station.

किमन्यदिह वक्तव्यं प्रतिष्ठां प्रति कारणम् पर्तिष्ठितं शिवेनापि लिंगं वैश्वेश्वरं यतः

What else need be said regarding the establishment? The cause is that the Linga, the Lord of the Universe, has been established even by Shiva.

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन परत्रेह च शर्मणे स्थापयेत्परमेशस्य लिंगं बेरमथापि वा

Therefore, with all effort, one should establish the liṅga or an image of the Supreme Lord, either here or in the next world, for the sake of happiness.

किमिदं लिंगमाख्यातं कथं लिंगी महेश्वरः कथं च लिंगभावो ऽस्य कस्मादस्मिञ्छिवो ऽर्च्यते

What is this liṅga that is spoken of? How is the Great Lord a bearer of the liṅga? How does he possess the state of liṅga, and why is Śiva worshipped in this form?

अव्यक्तं लिंगमाख्यातं त्रिगुणप्रभवाप्ययम् अनाद्यनंतं विश्वस्य यदुपादानकारणम्

The liṅga is said to be unmanifest, arising from the three guṇas; it is beginningless and endless, and is the material cause of the universe.

तदेव मूलप्रकृतिर्माया च गगनात्मिका तत एव समुत्पन्नं जगदेतच्चराचरम्

That alone is the root-prakṛti, māyā, whose nature is space; from that, this entire world of moving and unmoving beings has arisen.