Shloka 18

उमास्वयंवरः / भवोद्वाहः, गणसमागमः, अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम्, तथा विनायक-उत्पत्तिसूचना

Devanagari script

आवेष्टनस् तथाष्टाभिः सप्तभिश्चन्द्रतापनः महाकेशः सहस्रेण कोटीनां गणपो वृतः

Transliteration

āveṣṭanas tathāṣṭābhiḥ saptabhiścandratāpanaḥ mahākeśaḥ sahasreṇa koṭīnāṃ gaṇapo vṛtaḥ

Translation

Er ist Āveṣṭana und auch Candratāpana, begleitet von den Scharen der Acht und der Sieben. Er ist Mahākeśa, „der Herr mit dem großen Haar“, umringt von einem Gaṇa-Anführer inmitten von Tausenden und Koti-Koti von Śivas Gefolge.

Word by Word

• āveṣṭanaḥ: the Enveloper/Encircler (one who wraps and protects, also one who pervades)

• tathā: and also

• aṣṭābhiḥ: by the eight (eightfold hosts/powers)

• saptabhiḥ: by the seven (sevenfold hosts/powers)

• candratāpanaḥ: the one who makes the moon blaze/one whose radiance heats even the moon

• mahākeśaḥ: the Great-Haired One (matted locks, ascetic sovereignty)

• sahasreṇa: with a thousand

• koṭīnām: of crores (ten-millions)

• gaṇapaḥ: lord/leader of the gaṇas

• vṛtaḥ: surrounded/encircled.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya; within a Shiva-names section)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It frames the worshipped Linga as Pati (Shiva) who pervades and protects (Āveṣṭana) and who is never solitary—He is the sovereign of the gaṇas, indicating that Linga-puja invokes the whole Shaiva mandala of attendants and powers.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as all-encompassing and radiant (Candratāpana), simultaneously ascetic and transcendent (Mahākeśa), and as the commanding Lord (Gaṇapa) who rules innumerable forces—signifying Pati’s supremacy over pashu (souls) and pasha (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

While not a direct ritual injunction, it supports Pashupata-oriented contemplation: meditating on Shiva’s names and visualizing Him as Mahākeśa surrounded by gaṇas, a common nyāsa/dhyāna aid within Linga Purana Shiva Sahasranama recitation.