Shloka 23

शिवध्यानपूजनवर्णनम्

Description of Śiva Meditation and Worship

Devanagari script

अन्तःपुराधिपं साक्षान्नन्दिनं सम्यगर्चयेत् । चामीकराचलप्रख्यं सर्वाभरणभूषितम्

Transliteration

antaḥpurādhipaṃ sākṣānnandinaṃ samyagarcayet | cāmīkarācalaprakhyaṃ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitam

Translation

ثم ينبغي أن يُعبَد نندين نفسه على الوجه القويم—سيدُ المقصورة الداخلية لِشِيفا—المتألّق كجبلٍ من ذهب، والمتحلّي بكل صنوف الحُليّ.

Word by Word

• अन्तःपुर-अधिपम्: the lord of the inner palace (chief attendant)
• अन्तःपुर-अधिपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तःपुर (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘अन्तःपुरस्य अधिपः’

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रत्यक्षार्थक (directly, in person)

• नन्दिनम्: Nandin
• नन्दिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषनाम

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (properly, duly)

• अर्चयेत्: should worship
• अर्चयेत्: Vidhi-kriyā (विधेयक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चामीकर-अचल-प्रख्यम्: splendid like a golden mountain
• चामीकर-अचल-प्रख्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चामीकर (प्रातिपदिक) + अचल (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः ‘चामीकराचलवत् प्रख्यः’ (renowned/bright like a golden mountain)

• सर्व-आभरण-भूषितम्: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्व-आभरण-भूषितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः ‘सर्वैः आभरणैः भूषितम्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Nandin worship is framed as access to Śiva’s ‘inner abode’—a paradigmatic Siddhāntic idea: approaching Pati through His gaṇa-chief and dharma-guardian, stabilizing devotion and discipline (sthiti).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse teaches that devotion is complete when it honors Śiva’s sacred retinue; worshipping Nandin, the foremost attendant, expresses humility and readiness to receive Śiva’s grace (anugraha) on the path from paśu to Pati.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In temple and home worship, Nandi stands facing the Liṅga as the ideal devotee; venerating Nandi aligns the worshipper with focused bhakti and prepares the mind to approach Saguna Śiva through reverent, ordered pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Nandi-arcana before Śiva-pūjā—offer flowers, water, and a brief salutation—then sit with the same single-pointedness as Nandi and mentally repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” with devotion.