Vasistha Purana, also known as Vasistha Linga Purana, is mentioned
by Gopala Dasa in his Bhakti Ratnakara and Vasisthalainga by Mitra Mishra in his
Viramitrodaya in the list of Upapuranas.
Source -
Studies in the Upapurana Vol II (1963) R C Hazra - Sanskrit College Kolkata
Encyclopedia of Hinduism - page 212 Vol XI Rupe IHRF
Puranas, Upapuranas and digests on dharma list eighteen Puranas
and Upapuranas. While the names of the eighteen Puranas are almost uniform in
these lists, the names of Upapuranas vary. Manuscripts of many Upapuranas are
not available. Hence it is very difficult to determine identity and subject
matter of such Upapuranas.
Vasistha Laingapurana was perhaps also known as Vasistha
Purana and Maheshwara. If this identity is correct, the text of a Vasistha
Linga Purana recently published enables us to infer the subject matter of
Vasistha Purana.
Vasistha Linga Purana, in twelve chapters, in the form of an
interlocution between Vasistha and Shiva, explains the nature of Shiva in the
company of his consort Uma as the supreme lord of the world.
Maya, the illusory power, subject to his control, is the
cause of the world appearing as real. It operates by means of karma vipaka (the
fruits of past deeds) of the beings and efflux of time. God creates the world,
protects it in his form as Vishnu and destroys it in his form as Rudra. From the
eternal sound phenomenon, God churned Vedas.
Knowledge releases one from bondage and the rituals produce
desire for knowledge. The text glorifies Varanasi and many sacred places like
Kanchi, Shvetaranya, Madhyarjuna and Kumbakonam on the banks of the Kaveri
River, Rameshwaram, Vriddhachalam, Kalahasti and others. The work was probably
composed in South Indian.
Vasistha Purana declares Vedas as the authority for
determining the nature of dharma and adharma. It advocates installation of the
images of Shiva and his worship with five sacred syllables on different days of
the lunar fortnight and on days ruled by different asterisms, and explains its
benefit. Immense benefits arise by wearing sacred ashes on different parts of
the body along with repetition of certain Vedic hymns.
Wearing rudraksha set with gold or silver is recommended. The
composition and greatness of om and mode of assigning the syllable on fingers
are explained.
Duties of four castes, four stages of life and
characteristic features of the four yugas are explained. The legend of the
appearance of Shiva in a nude form at Devadaruvana in order to free ascetics
therein from the veil of ignorance is narrated in detail. Many statements from
Upanishads are incorporated, making an excellent exposition of the nature of
Brahman.
Source -
Studies in the Upapurana Vol II (1963) R C Hazra - Sanskrit College Kolkata
Encyclopedia of Hinduism - page 212 Vol XI Rupe IHRF