Linga Purana

TheLinga Purana(लिङ्गपुराण,IAST:Liṅga-purāṇa) is one of the eighteenMahapuranas, and aShaivismtext ofHinduism.The text's titleLingarefers to the iconographical symbol forShiva.
The author(s) and date of theLinga Puranaare unknown, and estimates place the original text to have been composed between the 5th-10th century CE. The text exists in many versions and was likely revised over time and expanded.The extant text is structured into two parts, with a cumulative total of 163 chapters.
The text presentscosmology, mythology, seasons, festivals, geography, a tour guide for pilgrimage (Tirtha), a manual for the design and consecration of theLingaandNandi,stotras, the importance of these icons, a description ofYogawith claims of its various benefits.
The estimated composition dates for the oldest core ofLinga Puranavary among scholars, ranging from the 5th-century CE to the 10th-century.
Like all thePuranas, theLinga Puranahas a complicated chronology. Cornelia Dimmitt andJ. A. B. van Buitenenstate that each of thePuranasis encyclopedic in style, and it is difficult to ascertain when, where, why, and by whom these were written:
TheLinga Puranasurvives in many versions, consisting of two parts – thePurva-bhaga(older part, sometimes calledPurvardha) with 108 chapters andUttara-bhaga(later part, sometimes calledUttarardha) with 55 chapters.However, the manuscripts of the text assert in verse 2.55.37 that theUttara-bhagaonly has 46 chapters, suggesting that the text was expanded over time.Some scholars suggest that the entireUttara-bhagamay be a later insertion or attachment to the older part.
The text is titled after its theme, which is the worship of Linga, and the text is primarily focused on Shiva as Supreme.However, along with Shiva-related themes, theLinga Puranaincludes chapters dedicated toVedicthemes, as well as includes reverence forVishnuandBrahma.
Linga, statesAlain Daniélou, means sign.It is an important concept in Hindu texts, wherein Linga is a manifested sign and nature of someone or something. It accompanies the concept ofBrahman, which as invisible signless and existent Principle, is formless or linga-less.TheLinga Puranastates, "Shiva is signless, without color, taste, smell, that is beyond word or touch, without quality, motionless and changeless".The source of the universe is signless, and all of the universe is the manifested Linga, a union of unchanging Principles and the ever-changing nature.TheLinga Puranatext builds on this foundation.
TheLinga Puranaconsists of two parts – the longerPurva-bhagaand the shorterUttara-bhaga.They discuss diverse range of topics, and illustrative sections include:
The Linga Purana is notable for its aggressiveness in retaliating against those who censure Shiva, suggesting in chapter 1.107 that Shiva devotee should be willing to give his life to end the censorship of Shiva, if necessary with violence against those who censure Shiva.In Chapter 1.78, the text also emphasizes the virtues of non-violence, stating, "violence should be avoided always, and at all places."
The Linga Purana's ideas incorporate, states Stella Kramrisch, those of theSamkhyaschool ofHindu philosophy.The chapter 1.17 of theLinga PuranaintroducesLingaasPradhanaorPrakriti(cosmic substance), while Shiva is described asLingin, or one with this "subtle body".Lingam is presented by the text as an abstract concept, theformless reality, contrasted withAlinga(Vyakta), along with its phallic significance with the sexual truth in nature's process of life creation in the universe. The verses of the text, states Kramrisch, presentLingaas ananiconicsymbol of both the matter and the spirit, thePrakritiand thePurusha, whereby the "powers of creation, liberation, and annihilation" are symbolized by the icon.