Shiva Purana

siva.sh/siva-purana/vishweshwara-samhita/19/9

यथा सर्वेषु देवेषु ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठो महेश्वरः । एवं सर्वेषु लिंगेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्टमुच्यते ९ ।

sanskrit

Just as Śiva is the oldest and the most excellent of all deities, so also his earthly phallic image is the most excellent of all.

english translation

yathA sarveSu deveSu jyeSThaH zreSTho mahezvaraH | evaM sarveSu liMgeSu pArthivaM zreSTamucyate 9 |

hk transliteration by Sanscript

siva.sh/siva-purana/vishweshwara-samhita/19/9

यथा सर्वेषु देवेषु ज्येष्ठः श्रेष्ठो महेश्वरः । एवं सर्वेषु लिंगेषु पार्थिवं श्रेष्टमुच्यते ९ ।

sanskrit

Just as Śiva is the oldest and the most excellent of all deities, so also his earthly phallic image is the most excellent of all.

english translation

yathA sarveSu deveSu jyeSThaH zreSTho mahezvaraH | evaM sarveSu liMgeSu pArthivaM zreSTamucyate 9 |

hk transliteration by Sanscript