Shloka 16

Shivamurti–Pratishtha Phala: Shivalaya-Nirmana, Kshetra-Mahatmya, Tirtha-Snana, and Mandala-Vidhi

Devanagari script

ज्ञानयोगं समासाद्य गाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात् नीलाद्रिशिखराख्यं वा प्रासादं यः सुशोभनम्

Transliteration

jñānayogaṃ samāsādya gāṇapatyamavāpnuyāt nīlādriśikharākhyaṃ vā prāsādaṃ yaḥ suśobhanam

Translation

مَن نالَ جنانا-يوغا، أي يوغا المعرفة الروحية، حاز مقام «غانابَتْيَة» بالانضمام إلى غاناتِ الربّ. وكذلك من يُقيم أو يعبد المعبدَ القَصْريَّ البهيَّ المسمّى «نيلادري-شيخَرا» ينال المنزلة السامية نفسها.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानयोगम् (jñānayogam): the yoga of liberating knowledge

• समासाद्य (samāsādya): having reached/attained

• गाणपत्यम् (gāṇapatyam): the condition/status of a Gaṇa of Śiva (membership in Śiva’s retinue)

• अवाप्नुयात् (avāpnuyāt): would obtain/attain

• नीलाद्रि-शिखर-आख्यम् (nīlādri-śikhara-ākhyam): named ‘Nīlādri-Śikhara’ (Blue-Mountain Peak)

• वा (vā): or/alternatively

• प्रासादम् (prāsādam): palace-like temple/shrine

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• सुशोभनम् (suśobhanam): very beautiful/splendid.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It links inner realization (jñāna-yoga) with outer sacred service (a splendid Śiva-prāsāda), teaching that both culminate in proximity to Pati—expressed as attaining gāṇapatya, membership in Śiva’s divine retinue.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati, the Lord whose liberated attendants (Gaṇas) embody freedom from pāśa (bondage). Attaining ‘gāṇapatya’ signals nearness to Śiva-tattva through knowledge that loosens the pasha binding the pashu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Two complementary means are highlighted: jñāna-yoga (liberating insight) and prāsāda-sevā/merit (building or honoring a Śiva-temple such as Nīlādri-Śikhara), both presented as leading to exalted Shaiva attainment.