74 - Description of Shiva Lingas 

Süta said: 

1. At the bidding of Lord Brahmä, Višhvakarmā made the following Lingas befitting the office of Devas and gave those Lingas to them. 

2. The Linga made of Sapphire was worshipped by Vişhnu. Indra worshipped that of ruby. The son of Vishravas worshipped the Linga made of gold. 

3. Vishvedevas worshipped Silver Linga, Vasus the auspicious magnetic Linga, Väyu the Linga made of brass; and Ashvins the Earthen Linga. 

4. King Varuna worshipped the crystal Linga; Adityas the excellent Linga made of copper, and king Soma the excellent Linga made of pearls. 

5. Ananta and the other great serpents worshipped the Linga of coral; Daityas and Rākşhasas the ferrous Linga. 

6. Guhyakas worshipped the Linga of three metals, Ganas that made of all metals and O excellent brahmins, Chāmundā and?????  worshipped the Linga of Sand. 

7. Nairruti worshipped the Linga of wood; Yama that of emerald; Nilarudra and others the pure and splendid Linga made of Bhasman (ashes). 

8. Lakşhmi worshipped the Linga of Lakşhmivrukșha (Bilva tree); Guha the Linga of cowdung. O leading sages, the sages worshipped the excellent Linga of Kusha grass. 

9. Vámadeva and others worshipped the Pushpa linga and Manonmani the Linga made of scents. Sarasvati worshipped the Linga made of jewels. 

10. Durgā worshipped the Linga made of gold along with the pedestal. All the Mantras worshipped Ugra in the form of sacrifice with the splendid Linga made of ghee. 

11. The Vedas worshipped the Linga of curds; Pishachas the Linga of lead. All the worshippers attained the suitable region by the favour of Brahmā. 

12. Of what avail is much talk? There is no doubt in this that it was due to their worshipping the Linga that the universe of mobile and immobile beings could stand. 

13-16. Due to the difference in the material, they say, there are six types of Lingas. Their subdivisions are fortyfour in number. The first type of Linga is called Shailaja (made of rock). It has four sub-divisions. O excellent sages, the second type is made of jewels. It has seven sub-divisions. The third type originates from metals and it has eight sub-divisions. The fourth Linga originates from wood and it is of sixteen sub-divisions. O excellent brahmins, the fifth type of Linga is made of clay; it has two subdivisions. The sixth type of Linga is the Kşhaņika (momentary) and it is of seven subdivisions. 

17. The Linga originating from jewels bestows fortune; that originating from rock yields all Siddhis. The Linga made of metals bestows wealth and the Linga made of wood yields the achievement of worldly pleasures. 

18. O leading brahmins, the Linga of clay is splendid and brings about all Siddhis. The Linga of rock is very excellent; the Linga of metals is the middling one. 

19-20. Lingas are of numerous types. In brief, they are of nine types. 

At the root of the Linga, Brahmā is stationed. Vishņu the lord of three worlds, is stationed in the middle. Above is stationed Rudra, Mahadeva, SadaShiva who is called Praņava. The pedestal of Linga is the great goddess having three Gunas, the mother having three⁶⁵⁹ attributes. 

659. trimaya- brahma-Vişhnu-rudramayà ST. of the form of Brahmā Vişhnu and Rudra. 

21-25. The goddess as well as the lord is adored by the person who worships with that pedestal. The splendid Linga whether of rock, or of jewel or of metals, or of wood or of clay or of momentary, type, should be installed with devotion. The result is very splendid. 

The person who worships the Linga is eulogised by Indra, Brahmā, Agni, Yama, Varuņa, Kubera, Siddhas, Vidyadharas, the king of serpents, Yakşhas, Dānavas and Kinnaras with the sounds of the divine drum. He is a meritorious soul. Shining brilliantly with splendour he gradually occupies and passes through Bhūḥ, Bhuvaḥ, Svaḥ and Mahar worlds and then beyond Janaloka he shall go on to Tapas and Satya, illuminating them with his own brilliance. He shall unhesitatingly pierce the cosmic Egg by means of the large sword deposited in the holy path wherein the Lingas had been installed. 

26-30. After eschewing the Lingas of rock, or of jewels, or of metals, or of wood or of clay or of the momentary type he shall establish his entire body in the Linga. 

The man who instals the splendid Linga white as the kunda flower or cow's milk, in accordance with the injunctions, along with Skanda and Umā undoubtedly becomes Rudra embodied in human form. By touching himn or seeing him men attain great bliss. O leading brahmins, his merit cannot be mentioned by me even in hundreds of yugas. Hence one should instal the Linga in the above manner. 

The Sakala (one with attributes) and divinely splendid body of the lord is worthy of being conceived by all men. But the Nishkala (attributeless) body of the lord can be conceived only by the yogin.