2 - Index of Content 

Suta said: 

1-3. Formerly the excellent Lingapurāņa was composed by Brahmā, the great soul. It was based on the events that happened in the Ishāna kalpa, and originally it contained a crore of verses among a hundred crore that comprised all the Purāņas. The Purāņas were abridged into four hundred thousand verses hy Vyāsas in the different manvantaras. Later in the beginning of Dväpara, they were classified into eighteen parts, beginning with Brahmānda among which this Linga purāna ranks as the eleventh. Thus I have heard from Vyāsa. 

4. O brahmins, the number of verses in this Purāna is eleven thousand, I shall succinetly narrate it now, as it has not been heard by me in detail. 

5. When the Purānas were abridged into four hundrcd thousand verses by Krishna Dvaipāyana, the Linga was abridged in eleven thousand verses. 

6. At the outset the creation of Pradhāna is mentioned, then the primary and seeondary creation and then the origin of the cosmic egg, enveloped by eight sheaths.¹³ 

13. But in I. 3-33 the Purana refers to the seven sheaths of the Cosmic Egg. 

7. Then, the evolution of Brahınā through the cosmic egg, by the force of rajoguņa, the evolution of Vişhnu and Rudra, and Vişhnu's lying down in the waters. 

8. The creation of the Prajapatis; the uplifting of the earth, the duration of Brahma's day and night, the reckoning of his whole span of life. 

9-10. The savana of Brahmā; his yuga and kalpa; the divine and human years; the years of sages, Dhruva and Pitrus; the nativity of Pitrus; the duties of the people in their respective stages of life; the decrease of population in the Universe; the manifestation of the creative energy. 

11. The male and female nature of energy; the creation of Brahmã; the birth of twins; the eight names of Rudra in the course of weeping. 

12. The dispute between Brahmã and Vişhņu; the mani- festation of the Linga once again; the penance of Shilada; the vision of Indra, the slayer of Vrutra, 

13-14. His request for a son not born through a womb; the impossibility of getting such a son, thc dialogue between Shilada and Indra; the birth of Brahmā from a lotus; the manifestation of Bhava in the Kali age; the preceptor and the disciple; the incarnations of Vyāsa; the kalpas and the manvantaras. 

15-18. The nature of the kalpas and their different names; Vişhnu in the form of Varāha in the Värāha kalpa. -meghavāhana; the grandeur and majesty of Rudra; the manifestation once again of Linga in the midst of sages; the propitiation of Linga; the injunctions regarding ablution; the natu of purity; the glory of Vārāṇasi and of the holy centres; the shrines of Rudra and Vişhņu on the earth as well as in the firmament. 

19. Tha fall of Daksha on to the earth in the Svârochișha manvantara; the curse on Daksha and his release from the curse. 

20. The description of Kailāsa; the yoga pertaining to Pashupati (Shiva); the extent of the four yugas; the detail of the duties assigned to each yuga. 

21-22. The magnitude of the interval between the yugas; the activities of Rudra during these intervals; his residence in the cremation ground; the origin of the digit of the moon on his forehead; his marriage; birth of his son; the fear of the people in anticipation of destruction due exssive indulgence in sexual intercourse. 

23-241. The curse pronounced by Sati on the Devas and on Vinnu who was, later on, absolved by Rudra; Rudra's discharge of semen; the birth of Karttikeya; the merit of performing ablution to the Lingas during the eclipse; the dispute between Kshupa and Dadhicha is also bewern Dadhicha and Vishnu. 

25-27. The incarnation of the trident hearing lord Nandi; the narrative of the chaste lady; the discussion about the individual soul and avidya or igorrancethe nature of worldly attivities and of perfect hnowledge; the characteristics of those entitled tv liberation; the birth of Vasishtha's sons; the description of the families of the great sages in the spiritual lineage of Vasişhtha; the devouring of Shakti by a demon-king due to the wickedness of Vishvamitra; the capture of the divine cow Surabhi. 

28-29. Vasishtha's gnef over the loss of his son; lamentations of Arundhati; the course of their daughter-in-law; the words of the child in the womb; the birth of Parāśhara, Vyása and Shuka; the destruction of the Rakşhasas by Shakti's son Parăśhara. 

30-31. The truth about the deities; the perfect knowledge as the grace of the lord; thc composition of the Purānas at the behest of the preceptor Pulastya; the magnitude of the worlds; the movement of the planets and luminaries; rules of procedure about Shrāddha for living ones; those who deserve Shrāddhas; the description of Shrāddha. 

32. Rules of procedure about Nändiśhräddha;the method of studying the Vedas; the efficacy of the five yajñas and the rules of their performance. 

33. The conduct and behaviour of women during their menstrual period; the birth of excellent sons due to that conduct; the rules about sexual intercourse in regard to persons of different castes in due order, 

34. The injunctions regarding what should and what should not be eaten in respect of the people of all castes; the expiatory rites for the general as well as for the particular sins severally and in detail. 

35. The form and features of the hells; crime and punish meno; signs of mon destined to be heavenly or hellish in later births. 

36. Kinds of charitable gifts; the city of the King of the Dead; ritualistic dctail of thc five-syllabled mantra; the greatness of Rudra. 

37. The fight betwcen Vrutra and Indra; the suppression of Vrutra in his universal form; the dialogue between Shveta and Mrutyu; the destruction of Kala on behalf of Shveta. 

38-41. The arrival of Shiva in the forest of cider trees; the narrative of Sudarshana; the characteristics of Krama-sannyåsa; the statement of Brahmã that Rudra could be propitiated by devotion and faith; the incident of Brahma seized by Madhu and Kaitabha; then in order to impart the highest perfect knowledge to Brahmā, the story of Vişhņu assuming the form of a fish; in all conditions the incarnation of Vişhņu just as a matier of sport; the birth of ShriKrishna's son Pradyumna by the grace of Rudra; Vişhnu as a tortoise for holding the churning rod. 

42. The birth of Sarkarşhaņa; the rebirth of Chandikā; the birth of Krishna among the Yadus. 

43. Tlie wickedness of Kamsa, the uncle of Krişhņa; Krishna's sporting activity during infancy; his worship of Shiva for obtaining sons. 

44. The origin of water from the skull of Shiva in the form of Vişhnu; Vişhnu's propitiation of Rudra for lessening tlie burden of the earth. 

45. The milking of the earth, at the outset, by Pruthu the son of Vena; the curse of Bhrugu incurred by Vishņu in the course of conflict between Devas and Asuras. 

46-47. In his incarnation as Krishna his residence in Durint-. tlie curse of Durväsas as conducive to his welfare; the curse on Yadavas for their destruction; the growth of reeds and javelins. 

48. The annihilation of the Yadavas in mutual quarrel by using reeds and Krişhņa annihilating his tribe sportively through that very reed. 

49. Krishna's voluntary departure from this world; the perfect knowledge of Brahman in salvation in detail. 

50-51. The subjugation of Andhaka, Agni and Daksha who had assumed the forms of Indra elephant and the deer; the description of the pumordial Brahman; subjugation of Kama by Shiva, and of the enemies of devas, of the deitya Halăhala in particular; the destruction of Jälandhara and the origin of Sudarshana discus. 

52-33. The acquisition of that excellent wrapon by Vişhnu; Rudra's activities; thousands of his adventures; the activities. and the powers of Vişhnu, Brahmā and Indra; the description of the world of Shiva. 

54-56. Rudra's world on the earth; Hatakešhvara in the nether worlds; the nature of austerities; the power of Brahmins; Linga's excellence over all other images of deities all these are recorded in their proper order and in detail¹⁴ in this Purāņa. He who after knowing the gist recites it, is liberated from sins. He goes to the world of Brahmā. 

14. ST. adds another interpretation. 'Ihe order of contents (as stated in this chapter is not observed here (i.e. in this purāna) nor are the contents described in detail'.