Shloka 8
नन्दिकेशावतारवर्णनम् (Nandikeśa Avatāra Varṇanam) — “Account of the Descent/Origin of Nandikeśvara”
ततः प्रणम्य देवेशं स्तुत्वा स्तुतिभिरादरात् । शिलादो मुनिशार्दूलस्तमाह सुकृताञ्जलिः
tataḥ praṇamya deveśaṃ stutvā stutibhirādarāt | śilādo muniśārdūlastamāha sukṛtāñjaliḥ
Daraufhin verneigte er sich vor dem Herrn der Götter und pries Ihn ehrfürchtig mit Lobgesängen; der große Weise Śilāda, der Vornehmste unter den Asketen, redete Ihn an, die Hände in Andacht gefaltet.
Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It presents the Shaiva Siddhanta posture of approach to Pati (Lord Shiva): humility (praṇāma), heartfelt praise (stuti), and surrender (añjali), showing that grace arises through devotion and reverence.
Although the verse does not name the Liṅga explicitly, it describes the classic Saguna mode of worship—bowing, chanting hymns, and offering añjali—through which the devotee relates personally to Shiva as Deveśa.
A simple practice is indicated: begin Shiva worship with praṇāma, recite stotras or the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with reverence, and hold the mind steady in añjali-bhāva (devout folded-hands contemplation).