據(ju)《云(yun)笈七簽》引《洞真(zhen)大(da)洞真(zhen)經》稱,靈寶天尊系“玉(yu)晨之(zhi)(zhi)精氣,九慶之(zhi)(zhi)紫煙,玉(yu)輝煥耀,金映流真(zhen),結化含秀,苞凝(ning)元(yuan)神,寄胎母氏,育形(xing)為人(ren)”。《靈寶略記》則稱“太上(shang)大(da)道君以開(kai)皇元(yuan)年托(tuo)胎于(yu)(yu)西方綠那玉(yu)國(guo),寄孕于(yu)(yu)洪氏之(zhi)(zhi)胞,凝(ning)神瓊(qiong)胎之(zhi)(zhi)府三千七百年,降誕于(yu)(yu)其(qi)國(guo)郁察(cha)山浮羅之(zhi)(zhi)岳(yue)丹玄之(zhi)(zhi)阿側(ce),名曰器度,字上(shang)開(kai)元(yuan)。及其(qi)長,乃啟悟道真(zhen),期(qi)心高道,坐于(yu)(yu)枯(ku)桑之(zhi)(zhi)下,精思(si)百日(ri)而元(yuan)始天尊下降,授靈寶大(da)乘(cheng)之(zhi)(zhi)法十(shi)部妙(miao)經”。
靈寶天尊是(shi)大(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)化身之(zhi)一。《大(da)(da)洞(dong)真(zhen)(zhen)經》云(yun):“上(shang)(shang)清高圣太上(shang)(shang)大(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)君(jun)(jun)(jun)者(zhe)(zhe),蓋玉(yu)宸之(zhi)精氣,慶云(yun)之(zhi)紫煙(yan),玉(yu)暉曜(yao)煥,金映(ying)流真(zhen)(zhen),結(jie)化含(han)秀(xiu),包凝立神,道(dao)(dao)君(jun)(jun)(jun)即廣宣經箓(lu),傳乎萬世。”《云(yun)笈七簽(qian)》卷三(san)亦云(yun):“玉(yu)宸道(dao)(dao)君(jun)(jun)(jun)者(zhe)(zhe)乃大(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)化身也(ye),言其(qi)有(you)(you)不可以隨迎,謂其(qi)無(wu)復存(cun)(cun)乎恍惚,所(suo)以不有(you)(you)而有(you)(you),不無(wu)而無(wu),視之(zhi)無(wu)象,聽之(zhi)無(wu)聲,于妙有(you)(you)妙無(wu)之(zhi)間(jian)大(da)(da)道(dao)(dao)存(cun)(cun)焉(yan),道(dao)(dao)君(jun)(jun)(jun)即審(shen)道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)本,洞(dong)道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)元,為道(dao)(dao)之(zhi)炁。”
陶弘景編寫的(de)《真(zhen)靈位(wei)業圖》列靈寶天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)在第(di)二神階之(zhi)中位(wei),僅次于第(di)一神階中位(wei)之(zhi)元始天(tian)(tian)尊(zun)。
自元(yuan)始(shi)天尊(zun)處受經法以后,上(shang)(shang)清靈寶天尊(zun)即輔佐元(yuan)始(shi)天尊(zun),居三十(shi)六(liu)天之第二高位上(shang)(shang)清境,在(zai)三十(shi)四天之上(shang)(shang),治蕊珠(zhu)日闕(que),管(guan)七(qi)映紫房,金童玉女各侍衛三十(shi)萬(wan)(wan)。萬(wan)(wan)神(shen)入拜,五德把符(fu),上(shang)(shang)真侍晨(chen),天皇抱圖。
靈寶天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)以靈寶之(zhi)法(fa),隨(sui)世度(du)人(ren)(ren)(ren)。自(zi)元始開(kai)光,至于赤明元年(nian),經九(jiu)(jiu)千(qian)九(jiu)(jiu)百億萬劫,度(du)人(ren)(ren)(ren)有(you)如塵沙之(zhi)眾,不可(ke)勝(sheng)量。凡遇有(you)緣(yuan)好(hao)學(xue)之(zhi)人(ren)(ren)(ren),請(qing)問疑難,靈寶天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)即不吝教誨(hui)。天(tian)(tian)(tian)尊(zun)有(you)三十六變、七十二化,人(ren)(ren)(ren)欲見之(zhi),隨(sui)感而應,千(qian)萬處可(ke)分身即到。
道教宮觀(guan)里的三清殿中,靈寶(bao)天(tian)(tian)尊常以手捧如意之(zhi)(zhi)像居(ju)元(yuan)(yuan)始天(tian)(tian)尊之(zhi)(zhi)左側位(wei)(wei)。在(zai)道教大型齋醮禮儀中也多設有(you)三清神(shen)位(wei)(wei),以靈寶(bao)天(tian)(tian)尊居(ju)元(yuan)(yuan)始天(tian)(tian)尊之(zhi)(zhi)左位(wei)(wei)。靈寶(bao)天(tian)(tian)尊之(zhi)(zhi)神(shen)誕日為(wei)(wei)夏至日,約在(zai)農歷五月中。民間于夏至日之(zhi)(zhi)供(gong)奉常以靈寶(bao)天(tian)(tian)尊為(wei)(wei)主神(shen)。