Shloka 35

Adhyaya 44: Nandikesvara’s Manifestation and Abhisheka; The Rule of Namaskara in Shiva-Nama

Devanagari script

ततो विष्णुस्ततः शक्रो लोकपालास्तथैव च अभ्यषिञ्चन्त विधिवद् गणेन्द्रं शिवशासनात्

Transliteration

tato viṣṇustataḥ śakro lokapālāstathaiva ca abhyaṣiñcanta vidhivad gaṇendraṃ śivaśāsanāt

Translation

ثم إنَّ فيشنو، ثم شَكرا (إندرا)، وكذلك حُماةُ العوالم (اللوكابالا)، أقاموا على الترتيب الطقسي الصحيح مراسمَ التتويج بالمسح (أبهشيكا) لسيد الغَنات (غَنِندرا)، طاعةً لأمر شيفا.

Word by Word

• ततः: then/thereupon

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu

• ततः: then

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)

• लोकपालाः: the guardians of the worlds (Lokapālas)

• तथा एव च: and likewise/also

• अभ्यषिञ्चन्त: they anointed, consecrated (performed abhiṣeka)

• विधिवत्: according to proper rite, as enjoined

• गणेन्द्रम्: Gaṇendra, lord of Śiva’s gaṇas (Gaṇeśa)

• शिवशासनात्: by Śiva’s ordinance/command.

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Indra (Shakra)
• Lokapalas
• Ganesha (Ganendra)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It establishes that even Viṣṇu, Indra, and the Lokapālas perform consecratory rites only under Śiva’s ordinance—affirming Śiva (Pati) as the supreme ritual authority behind abhiṣeka and temple installation traditions connected to Liṅga worship.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva-tattva is shown as Śāsaka (the sovereign ordainer): the devas act as instruments of his will. This reflects the Shaiva Siddhānta view of Pati as the supreme governor who empowers cosmic functions while remaining the ultimate source of command and grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights abhiṣeka/abhiṣecanam—formal consecration “vidhivat,” i.e., according to injunction. Yogically, it implies Pāśupata alignment through obedience to Pati’s ājñā (command), the inner discipline of submitting action to Śiva’s ordinance.