THE LINGA-PURANA

CONTENTS Introduction xiv Lingapurana (in translation) Section I 1. Introductory 1 2. Index of Content 4 3. Primary creation 8 4. Inauguration of Creation 12 5. Creation 16 6. Glory of Siva 20 7. Esoteric secret of Siva 22 8. Yogic Zones 27 9. Obstacles and Portents 37 10. Means of Direct Perception 43 11. Sadyojata 47 12. Glory of Vamadeva 48 13. Glory of Tatpurusa 50 14. Glory of Aghoresa 51 15. Glory of Aghoresa 52 16. Glory of Isana 55 17. Origin of Linga 58 18. Visnu's praise of Siva 64 19. Enlightenment of Visnu 68 20. Enlightenment of Brahma 69 21. Eulogy of Siva 76 22. Creation of Rudras 84 23. Kalpas 86 24. Incarnations of Siva 90 25. Method of Acamana and Ablution 100 26. Procedure of Sacred Ablution 103 27. Worship of Linga 107 28. Mental worship of Siva 111 29. Victory over Death 115 30. Story of Sage Sveta 122 31. Hymn to Siva 125 32. Hymn to Siva 129 33. Statement of the sages 130 34. Praise of the Yogin 133 35. Defeat of Ksupa 136 36. Dialogue between Ksupa and Dadhica 139 37. Grant of boons to Brahma 145 38. Creation of Brahma 148 39. Specific Dharmas of Four Yugas 150 40. Extent of four Yugas 156 41. Nativity of Brahma 164 42. Origin of Nandisvara 169 43. Coronation of Nandisvara 172 44. Coronation of Nandisvara 176 45. Description of Nether worlds 179 46. Dvipas and their lords 181 47. Bharata sub-continent 184 48. The mountain Meru 187 49. Ilavrta sub-continent 190 50. Abodes of Devas 195 51. Continents 197 52. Geography of the World 200 53. Geography of the World 205 54. Movements of Luminaries 209 55. The Sun's Chariot 215 56. Description of the Moon 221 57. Movements of the Planets 223 58. Coronation of the Sun and others 226 59. The form of Solar rays 227 60. The Solar Sphere 231 61. The situation of the planets 233 62. Situation of Dhruva 238 63. Origin of Devas and others 241 64. Grant of boons by Pulastya 248 65. Thousand names of Siva 258 66. The narrative of Yayati 287 67. The narrative of Yayati 293 68. The race of Jyamagha 296 69. Srikrsna, his birth and life 299 70. Various Creations 306 71. Statement of Nandikesvara 333 72. Construction of Rudra's Chariot 347 73. Glory of Worshipping Siva 364 74. Description of Siva Lingas 366 75. Monism of Siva 369 76. Installation of Siva's Image 373 77. The Temples of Siva 378 78. Scrubbing and cleaning the shrine of siva 387 79. The mode of worship of Siva 389 80. The holy Pasupata rite 392 81. The holy rite for the release of Pasus 397 82. Hymn of purification 402 83. The holy rites of Siva 411 84. The holy rite of Uma-Mahesvara 416 85. The glory of the five-syllabled Mantra 422 86. The sacrifice of meditation 441 87. Suppression of delusion 455 88. Review of Pasupata yoga 458 89. Characteristics of good conduct 466 90. The expiatory rites of the ascetics 478 91. Portentous phenomena 480 92. Glory of Srisaila 486 93. The narrative of the Asura Andhaka 502 94. Uplifting the Earth 504 95. The Exploits of Nrsimha the Man-lion 507 Section I (Continued) 96. Prayer of Siva 513 97. Death of Jalandhara 524 98. Thousand names of Siva 528 99. Destruction of Daksa's sacrifice 553 100. Destruction of Daksa's sacrifice 555 101. Destruction of Kama 559 102. The penance of Uma 562 103. The glory of Sakti 566 104. The eulogy of the lord 573 105. The origin of Vinayaka 576 106. Tandava dance of Siva 579 107. The story of Upamanyu 581 108. Glory of the Pasupata Vrata 587 Section II 1. The Greatness of Narayana 589 2. The glory of Visnu 595 3. Achievement of the Science of Music by Narada 596 4. The description of a devotee of Visnu 606 5. The anecdote of Srimati 606 6. The origin and activities of Alaksmi 618 7. The twelve-syllabled Mantra 626 8. The eight-syllabled Mantra 629 9. The holy rite of Pasupata 632 10. The greatness of the consort of Uma 637 11. The superhuman magnificence of Siva 640 12. The cosmic form of Siva 644 13. The Eight Bodies of Siva 648 14. The Five Brahmanas 651 15. The form of the Supreme Lord 654 16. The principle of Siva 656 17. The greatness of Siva 659 18. The holy Pasupata rite 662 19. The mode of Siva's worship 668 20. The means of worshipping Siva 672 21. The mode of Initiation 677 22. The consecration of the Tattvas 684 23. The mode of worship of Siva 692 24. The mode of worship of Siva 695 25. The holy rites of fire pertaining to Siva 703 26. The mode of worshipping Aghora 714 27. The description of the Jaya ablution 717 28. The mode of charitable gifts 736 29. The mode of charitable gift of Hiranyagarbha 745 30. The mode of gifting the mountain of gingelly seeds 746 31. The mode of gifting the subtle mountain 748 32. The gift of golden earth 748 33. The mode of gifting the kalpa tree 749 34. The mode of gifting Visvesvara 750 35. The mode of gifting the golden cow 751 36. The mode of gifting Laksmi 752 37. The mode of gifting the golden cow along with gingelly seeds 753 38. The mode of offering thousand cows as gift 754 39. The procedure for the gift of golden horse 755 40. The mode of gifting a virgin 756 41. The gift of the golden bull 756 42. The mode of gifting an elephant 757 43. The mode of gifting the eight guardians of the quarters 758 44. The mode of gifting Visnu 759 45. The mode of performing Jivaccharaddha rite 760 46. Installation of the Linga 765 47. Installation of the Linga 767 48. The different varieties of Gayatri 771 49. Installation of Aghoresa 776 50. Mastering the mantra of Aghora 777 51. The Vidya of Vajresvari 781 52. Rites for enslaving, fascinating etc. 783 53. The rite of conquering Death 784 54. Worship with Triyambaka mantra 785 55. The mode of propitiating Siva 788