Shloka 1

Vighneshvara-Prashna and Deva-Krita Shiva-Stava

Adhyaya 104

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे पार्वतीविवाहवर्णनं नाम त्र्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः कथं विनायको जातो गजवक्त्रो गणेश्वरः कथं प्रभावस्तस्यैवं सूत वक्तुमिहार्हसि

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge pārvatīvivāhavarṇanaṃ nāma tryadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ kathaṃ vināyako jāto gajavaktro gaṇeśvaraḥ kathaṃ prabhāvastasyaivaṃ sūta vaktumihārhasi

Translation

So beginnt im Śrī Liṅga-Mahāpurāṇa, im Pūrvabhāga, das hundertvierte Kapitel mit dem Titel „Schilderung der Vermählung Pārvatīs“. Die Weisen sprachen: „Wie wurde Vināyaka geboren—der Elefantengesichtige, Herr der Gaṇas? Und wodurch ist seine Größe so gewaltig? O Sūta, du bist würdig, dies hier zu verkünden.“

Word by Word

• iti: thus

• śrī-liṅga-mahāpurāṇe: in the auspicious Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa

• pūrva-bhāge: in the first section (Pūrvabhāga)

• pārvatī-vivāha-varṇanam nāma: named ‘the description of Pārvatī’s marriage’

• try-adhika-śatatamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: the 103+1 (104th) chapter

• ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ: the sages said

• katham: how

• vināyakaḥ: Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)

• jātaḥ: was born

• gaja-vaktraḥ: elephant-faced

• gaṇa-īśvaraḥ: Lord of the Gaṇas

• katham: how

• prabhāvaḥ: power/glory

• tasya: of him

• evam: thus/so

• sūta: O Sūta

• vaktum: to speak/tell

• iha: here

• arhasi: you are worthy/able.

Speaker

Sages (Ṛṣis) addressing Sūta

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Vinayaka
• Ganesha
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It frames Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa) as Gaṇeśvara whose glory must be understood—supporting the Shaiva practice of invoking him at the threshold of Śiva-pūjā so obstacles (pāśa-like impediments) do not obstruct devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

By asking about the Lord of the Gaṇas within the Pārvatī-vivāha narrative, it implies Śiva-tattva as sovereign order (niyantṛ) whose śakti manifests attendants and guardians—showing Pati’s governance over cosmic functionaries through Śakti.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse implicitly points to the ritual principle of beginning auspicious acts with Vināyaka-prārthanā before entering Śaiva worship—preparing the sādhaka to move past obstacles and steadiness of mind, a prerequisite for Pāśupata-oriented discipline.