https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=LingashtakaLingashtaka - Revision history2026-07-31T05:05:20ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Lingashtaka&diff=512215&oldid=prevPasqualeCairnduf at 20:18, 10 April 20262026-04-10T20:18:30Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Hindu hymn in praise of Shiva}}{{Italic title}}{{Infobox religious text|religion=[[Hinduism]]|author=Adi Shankara|language=[[Sanskrit]]|caption=Image of a lingam, Badavilinga Temple, Hampi|image=[[File:The Magnificent Siva Lingam, Hampi.jpg|260px]]|verses=8|name=''Lingashtaka''}}The '''''Lingashtaka'''''<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/lingashtakam_202011 |title=LINGASHTAKAM |language=Indonesian}}</ref> ({{Langx|sa|लिंगाष्टकम्|translit=Liṃgāṣṭakaṃ}}) is a [[Hinduism|Hindu]] hymn attributed to the 8th-century philosopher [[Adi Shankara]]. An ''[[Ashtakam|ashtaka]]'', it comprises 8 stanzas,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Pratha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DpNPDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA39 |title=The Forgotten Shivlings of Sati Shaktipeeths |date=2018-03-06 |publisher=Zorba Books |isbn=978-93-87456-12-9 |pages=39 |language=en}}</ref> extolling the [[lingam]], an aniconic form of the deity [[Shiva]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Vanamali |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BmAoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT107 |title=Shiva: Stories and Teachings from the Shiva Mahapurana |date=2013-10-04 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-62055-249-0 |pages=107 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=SUVRATSUT |url=http://archive.org/details/LingashtakamEngV1 |title=Lingashtakam Eng |date=2017-09-06}}</ref><br />
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== Legend ==<br />
[[File:Ravaṇa attempts to lift the mountain.jpg|thumb|19th century painting of Ravana submitting to Shiva after attempting to lift his abode]]<br />
According to the ''[[Shiva Purana]]'', when [[Brahma]] and [[Vishnu]] disputed their superiority over the other, Shiva manifested before them as a massive [[Jyotirlinga|pillar of light]]. The two deities travelled along the length of the pillar in opposite directions to locate the end. While Vishnu confessed that he had been unable to locate the end, Brahma lied about having achieved his goal, proclaiming his victory. Shiva punished Brahma for his falsehood by creating [[Bhairava]], who decapitated one of Brahma's [[Panchamukha|five heads]]. Shiva announced that Brahma would not be worshipped by humans thence; he rewarded Vishnu for his honesty by announcing that he would be widely worshipped in the same manner as himself. Brahma was forgiven following the intercession of Vishnu. Following this event, Brahma and Vishnu worshipped Shiva, who named the day [[Maha Shivaratri|Shivaratri]]; he also prescribed the veneration of the lingam as his phallic emblem towards the achievement of [[Moksha|salvation]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shastri |first=J. L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4kbmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA60 |title=The Siva Purana Part 1: Ancient Indian Tradition and Mythology Volume 1 |date=2000-01-01 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |isbn=978-81-208-3868-0 |pages=60 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Books |first=Kausiki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c_ZLEAAAQBAJ&pg=RA2-PA34 |title=Siva Purana: Vidyeswara Samhitha: English Translation only without Slokas |date=2021-10-24 |publisher=Kausiki Books |pages=34 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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The ''Lingashtaka'' also references other legends of Shiva, such as the quelling of the [[Ravananugraha|pride of Ravana]] when the latter attempted to lift [[Mount Kailash]], and the destruction of [[Daksha yajna|Daksha's yajna]]. The ''[[phalashruti]]'' (meritorious verse) of the hymn states that when the ''Lingashtaka'' is recited near a lingam, the reciter would attain the abode of Shiva and enjoy his bliss.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Manjunath.R |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cFblEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA224 |title=Beyond the Temples: Unraveling the Mysteries of Hindu Gods |date=2023-11-24 |publisher=Manjunath.R |pages=224–226 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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== Hymn ==<br />
{{Saivism}}<br />
The first stanza of the hymn extols the attributes of the lingam:<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shivakumar |first=K. N. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BgAUEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA54 |title=Shlokas and Bhajans: with general knowledge and subhashitams |date=2021-01-14 |publisher=Sangeet Bharati |pages=54 |language=en}}</ref><br />
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{{Blockquote|text=''brahmamurārisurārcita lingam<br>nirmalabhāsitaśōbhita lingam<br>janmajaduḥkhavināśaka lingaṁ<br>tatpraṇamāmi sadā śiva lingam<br>''|title=|source=Verse 1}}{{Blockquote|text=''(I salute) the lingam that is worshipped by Brahma, Vishnu, and the devas<br>the lingam that is without impurity, smeared with ash, and splendid<br>the lingam that destroys the sorrows arising from birth<br>I salute that eternal Shiva's lingam''}}<br />
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== See also ==<br />
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* ''[[Kalabhairavashtakam|Kalabhairava Ashtaka]]''<br />
* ''[[Shiva Tandava Stotra]]''<br />
* ''[[Dakshinamurti Stotra]]''<br />
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== References ==<br />
<references /><br />
<br />
[[Category:Hindu mantras]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu devotional texts]]<br />
[[Category:Shaiva texts]]<br />
[[Category:Sanskrit texts]]<br />
[[Category:8th-century texts]]<br />
[[Category:Adi Shankara]]</div>PasqualeCairnduf