Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45
शुक्रस्य जठरस्थत्वं तथा मृत्युशमनी-विद्या (Śukra in Śiva’s belly and the death-subduing vidyā)
सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्येवमुक्तः प्रमथेश्वरेण स नंदिना वै प्रमथेश्वरेशः । उवाच देवः प्रहसंस्तदानीं तं नंदिनं सर्वगणेशराजम्
sanatkumāra uvāca | ityevamuktaḥ pramatheśvareṇa sa naṃdinā vai pramatheśvareśaḥ | uvāca devaḥ prahasaṃstadānīṃ taṃ naṃdinaṃ sarvagaṇeśarājam
Sanatkumāra sprach: So von Nandin, dem Herrn der Pramathas, angesprochen, redete jener göttliche Herr—lächelnd in jenem Augenblick—zu Nandin, dem König über alle Gaṇas.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
The verse highlights Śiva’s accessible, saguna presence: the Supreme Lord responds with a compassionate smile to His devotee-servant Nandin, showing that divine grace flows through intimate guru-like dialogue and loving service.
Though the Liṅga is not named here, the scene reflects saguna worship—Śiva as a personal Lord who guides His attendants. In Shaiva Siddhānta, such personal interaction complements Liṅga-upāsanā by emphasizing bhakti and the Lord’s anugraha (bestowing of grace).
The takeaway is sevā and attentive listening: approach Śiva with humility (like Nandin), maintain devotional discipline, and support practice with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") as a steady contemplative anchor.