Vasishṭha’s Liṅga Stotra

Vasishṭha Liṅga Stotra · vasishṭha-liṅga-stotra, “Vasishṭha’s praise of the liṅga”

Vasishṭha’s Liṅga Stotra is the praise of Bhagavān Śiva in the form of the liṅga (liṅga-mūrti), sung long ago on Śrīśaila by a ṛshi named Vasishṭha. Agni Deva tells it to Vasishṭha Maharshi in the Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 217, at the close of his teaching on the Gāyatrī. The one who sang it, Agni Deva says, was another Vasishṭha. First he did japa of the Gāyatrī, and then he praised Bhagavān Śiva as the liṅga of every kind. By Śiva’s grace he attained Parabrahma, which is nirvāṇa.

The stotra bows to Bhagavān Śiva as the golden liṅga and the liṅga of the Vedas, as the liṅga of fire, of ākāśa and of the pātālas. It bows to him as the liṅga of every principle of creation, from the unmanifest and buddhi down to the elements and the senses, and as the liṅga of the yajña and of the three Vedas. It closes with Vasishṭha’s prayer for yoga, a son, Parabrahma and peace.

The setting

Agni Deva said to Vasishṭha: “Vasishṭha! Another Vasishṭha, with Gāyatrī-japa first, praised Śiva in the form of the liṅga, and by Śiva’s grace attained Parabrahma, which is nirvāṇa.” The Purāṇa gives the stotra as a string of namaskāras (salutations).

The stotra

Vasishṭha praised Bhagavān Śiva in this way:

  • Namaskāra to the Kanaka-liṅga (the golden liṅga). Namaskāra to the Veda-liṅga. Namaskāra to the Parama-liṅga (the supreme liṅga). Namaskāra to the Ākāśa-liṅga.
  • Again and again namaskāra to Śiva who is the Sahasra-liṅga (the liṅga of a thousand liṅgas), the Vahni-liṅga (the liṅga of fire), the Purāṇa-liṅga and the Veda-liṅga.
  • Again and again namaskāra to the Pātāla-liṅga, the Brahma-liṅga, and the Saptadvīpordhva-liṅga (the liṅga that rises above the seven dvīpas).

“Again and again I bow to you who are:”

  1. Sarvātma-liṅga, the liṅga that is the ātmā of all
  2. Sarvaloka-liṅga, the liṅga of all the worlds
  3. Avyakta-liṅga, the liṅga of the unmanifest
  4. Buddhi-liṅga
  5. Ahaṅkāra-liṅga
  6. Bhūta-liṅga, the liṅga of the elements
  7. Indriya-liṅga, the liṅga of the senses
  8. Tanmātra-liṅga, the liṅga of the subtle elements
  9. Purusha-liṅga
  10. Bhāva-liṅga
  11. Rajordhva-liṅga, the liṅga above rajas
  12. Sattva-liṅga
  13. Dhava-liṅga
  14. Traiguṇya-liṅga, the liṅga of the three guṇas
  15. Anāgata-liṅga, the liṅga of what is yet to come
  16. Tejo-liṅga, the liṅga of radiance
  17. Vāyūrdhva-liṅga, the liṅga above vāyu
  18. Śruti-liṅga
  19. Atharva-liṅga
  20. Sāma-liṅga
  21. Yajñāṅga-liṅga, the liṅga of the limbs of the yajña
  22. Yajña-liṅga
  23. Tattva-liṅga
  24. Daivatānugata-liṅga, the liṅga followed by the devatās

Vasishṭha’s prayer

Then Vasishṭha prayed: “Prabhu Śiva! Teach me the highest yoga (parama-yoga). Give me a son equal to me. Grant me the attainment of the imperishable Parabrahma. Give me supreme peace (parama-śānti). May my line never decline. May my mind always be fixed on dharma.”

The phala

Agni Deva said: long ago, when Vasishṭha praised him in this way on Śrīśaila, Śaṅkara was pleased. He granted Vasishṭha varas (vara, a boon) and withdrew from sight there itself. By Śiva‘s grace Vasishṭha attained Parabrahma, which is nirvāṇa.

Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 217

Sources

  • Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 217