54 - The dimensions of different varieties of the linga

 The Lord said:

1. Ishall describe the measurement of the linga in a different way. Listen. Ishall (now) speak about the lingas made of salt, (and) ghee (which when worshipped) increases (one's) intellect. 

2. A linga made of cloth (is worshipped) for the sake of wealth. It is known as temporal. The one made of earth is either burnt or half burnt of which the former is better. 

3. Then, one made of wood is meritorious. One made of stone is more meritorious than that made of wood. (The linga) made of pearl is more meritorious than that of stone. Then (relatively merit-worthy) are the lingas made of iron, and gold. 

4. The lingas made of silver, copper and brass yield enjoyment and release from bondage. The lingas made of red lead and mercury are excellent and confer enjoyment and release from bondage. 

5. The installation of a linga on the earth made of mercury and iron etc or studded with gems increases one's glory and grants success as desired. 

6. If desired one can build temples and bases to these (emblems) on the left side. One may worship the image of the sun cast on the mirror. 

7. Harashould be worshipped everywhere. The worship gets completed only (by the worship) of the linga. A linga made of stone or woodshould be of a cubit length. 

8. The movable lingashould be of the size of a finger and encircled by the adytum. The linga worshipped in the houseshould be of the size of one to fifteen fingers, 

9. The lingas are classified into three groups according to the measure of the doorway or into nine groups according to the measure of the adytum. These lingasshould be worshipped in one's residence. 

10. Thus there are thirty-six lingas in the first class, thirty-six in the second class and thirty-six in the third class. 

11. Thus totally there would be one hundred and eight lingas. The lingas (measuring) one to five fingers (known as) theshort are said to be movable. 

12. The movable lingas measuring six to ten fingers are known as middle. Those measuring eleven to fifteen fingers are known as the best. 

13. (Those made) of excellent gets (should measure) six fingers. (Those made) of other gems (should measure) nine fingers. The golden ones (should be) twelve (fingers). The rest of the lingas (should be) fifteen (fingers). 

14. The four sets of corners from the topshould be successively cut into four or sixteen equal sides, and those again into thirtytwo and sixty-four (in turn so as to make it a polygon of sixty-four equal sides). 

15. The two sides being thus lopped off, the neck of a solid lingashould be twentysix parts from the rectangular space at its foot. 

16. (The face of the linga)should gradually be decreasing by four, six and eight parts from its base (and similarly) the middle part of the lingashould be gradually less than the height at its beginning by a foot. 

17. That which is equal to half (the size of) the adytum is (said to be) the lowest (variety of) linga. That which is fifteen (fingers in length) is the excellent. Seven equal linesshould be drawn in the central portion of these lingas. 

18. In this way there would be nine lines. The middle (variety of linga) would have five lines. The length of the lingasshould be nine fingers. The opposite side (should be) separated by two intermediate links. 

19. 'The linga is measured out cubit by cubit till it would be nine hands (length). The linga is of three kinds—inferior, mediocre and superior. 

20-22. A wisemanshould mark three lingas at the centre of every linga foot by foot at fourteen (places) by a fixed measure of length of the door or the adytum. Four lingas representing Siva, Vishnu, Bruhaspati proportionatelyshould be marked by the breadth. The lingashould be (shaped) long to represent the three forms, 

23. The lingashould have a circumference of four, eight, eight (inches) representing the three qualities. Oneshould make the lingas of such lengths as one desires. 

24. Oneshould divide the figure (marked) by the banners, celestial gods, elements or cocks. Oneshould know the good or bad from the inches left over. 

25. The banners etc., the crows, lions, elephants and goats are excellent. The others are auspicious. Among the primary notes of Indian gamut, the first onc, second one and the fifth onc confer good. 

26-27. Among the elements, the earth is auspicious. Among the fires, the consecrated fire (from the household’s perpetual fire) is auspicious. Half of the said length having been divided in order into seven, eight, five, nine and five parts there would be symmetrical representation of Siva, Vishņu and Brahman. 

28. The fifth one is known as the Vardhamana. There would be two kinds based on the increase of breadth and length. Many kinds are described according to Viśvakarma (the divine architect). 

29. The adhya class would be of three kinds on account of the size. Measured by the barley grains it would be eight parts, by the arm it would be three parts. The last one endowed equally is known as jina. 

30-31. (There would be) twenty-five lingas in the first (variety) which are worshipped by the celestials. Then being divided into thirtyfive there would be 14000 and 1400 varicties. Thus (we have) the eight angula's extent from the nine cubit adytum. 

32. One has to mark the angular points by means of threads placed at the angular and middle of angular points. Having made the expansion from the middle, three partsshould be fixed from the middle. 

33. There would be eight angular parts above the division. Two angular parts represent the part of Siva. From the foot to the knee portion (of the linga) is Brahmä. (From the knee) to the navel is Vishnu. 

34. (From the navel) upto the head is the part of Siva. Similarly, it is in the case of distinct and indistinct forms. In the linga of five parts, the head part is said to be circular. 

35. The images (may be) of theshape of an umbrella, cock or crescent moon. Ishall describe the merits of the four varieties in each (class) differing on account of one's option. 

36. The head portion of the linga)should be divided into eight parts. The first part of the longitudinal portionshould be divided into four parts. 

37-39. There (should be) four lines successively drawn in order to divide into parts. We have by one part the lotus, the one called višala by cutting off, the Srivatsa by thinning out and the satrukyt by clision of the fourth part. In the sarvasama class the top portion is the excellent and the cock-shaped in the sura class among the linga of four parts. The top portion of the anádi has been described. You listen to (the characteristics of) the crescent of the top. 

40. At a corner of a part (thereshould be) the charming axis (represented) by four parts deficient by one part. By the elision of two, three and four parts in order, (one gets) the full, crescent moon and lotusshape. 

41. Listen then to (the description of forms having) four or three faces or one face and mukhalinga. The part to be worshipped is to be made set with nine parts. 

42-43. Having left out twelve parts for the arms and eyes, as before, the head, forehead, nose, face, chin, neck are then to be made. Having covered by the hands, the arms and eyes (are made) with four parts proportionate to the measurement of image. 

44. The faceshould be made equal to one-eighth part of the breadth. I have described the four-faced form. Listen! The three-faced form is described now. 

45. The ear and feet are made. One has to mark the forehead etc. for that. Then the armsshould be made with four parts quite strong. 

46. The projection of the frontispiece (should be) oneeighth of the breadth. One face has to be made such as to have beautiful eye on the eastern side. 

47. Itshould be made round at the forehead, nose, face and neck. By one-fifth from the arm oneshould make it round less by one's arm length. 

48. It is good to have the projections in the frontispiece as one-sixth of the breadth for all the mukhalingas whether it is trapusha or kukkuta (?)