Linga Purana

by Anonymous

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

Linga Purana cover
Culture:Indian, Hindu
Oral:300-800 CE
Written:600-1000 CE
Length:2 books, 22,000 lines, (~30 hours)
Linga Purana cover
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.

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.