Linga Purana
Also known as: Liṅga Purāṇa, Linga-Purana, The Linga Purana


A Shaiva Purana devoted to the theology, cosmology, and worship of Shiva through the symbol of the liṅga. It combines cosmogony, mythic cycles, sacred geography, and detailed rites, including mahatmyas of pilgrimage sites and the famed jyotirliṅgas.
Description
The Linga Purana is a foundational Shaiva scripture organized in two parts (pūrva and uttara) that expounds the metaphysics of Shiva as the supreme reality manifest in the liṅga. Its narrative arcs move from creation and dissolution to genealogies of gods and sages, embedding doctrine within mythic episodes such as the fiery pillar (liṅgodbhava) and accounts of the jyotirliṅgas. Interwoven are prescriptive sections on vratas, pūjā procedures, temple iconography, and sacred geography, offering mahatmyas for rivers, mountains, and tīrthas. The text reflects layered composition, drawing on earlier epic-puranic materials while articulating distinctively Shaiva ritual and philosophical syntheses. Revered across temple traditions, it has shaped devotional practice (especially Śivarātri observances), liturgy, and iconographic norms surrounding the liṅga–yoni as a symbol of cosmic unity.
Historiography
Surviving manuscripts exhibit significant variation in chapter counts and organization, pointing to regional redactions within the Shaiva tradition. Commentarial engagements are dispersed across puranic digests and ritual handbooks rather than a single classical commentary. Modern critical studies compare Linga Purana strata with parallel passages in Vayu, Kurma, and Shiva Puranas, noting shared cosmological frames and localized tīrtha mahatmyas. Printed editions rely on eclectic collation from North Indian and Nepalese manuscripts, and standard English translations follow later medieval recensions.
Date Notes
Composite Shaiva Purana with multiple strata; extant recensions are medieval, reflecting redactions over several centuries.
Archetypes
Major Characters
- Shiva
- Parvati
- Vishnu
- Brahma
- Skanda
Myths
- Origin of the Liṅga
- The Infinite Pillar Contest
- Praise of Śiva and the Cycles of Time
Facts
- A core Shaiva Purana centered on the metaphysics and worship of Shiva through the liṅga symbol.
- Tradition divides it into two parts (pūrva and uttara) with roughly 163 chapters in common recensions.
- Verse count is commonly transmitted as about 11,000 ślokas, though manuscripts vary.
- Includes extensive tīrtha and jyotirliṅga mahatmyas linking theology to sacred geography.
- Combines cosmology, genealogies, ritual prescriptions, and iconography instructions.
- Shivaratri observances and daily pūjā procedures receive detailed treatment.
- Redactional layers share material with Vayu, Kurma, and Shiva Puranas.
- Influential for temple practice and liṅga–yoni iconographic conventions.
- Surviving manuscripts show regional variation across North India and Nepal.
- English translations follow later medieval recensions compiled from eclectic manuscripts.