Shloka 1

Adhyaya 44: Nandikesvara’s Manifestation and Abhisheka; The Rule of Namaskara in Shiva-Nama

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे नन्दिकेश्वरप्रादुर्भावनन्दिकेश्वराभिषेकमन्त्रो नाम त्रिचत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः शैलादिरुवाच स्मरणादेव रुद्रस्य सम्प्राप्ताश् च गणेश्वराः सर्वे सहस्रहस्ताश् च सहस्रायुधपाणयः

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge nandikeśvaraprādurbhāvanandikeśvarābhiṣekamantro nāma tricatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ śailādiruvāca smaraṇādeva rudrasya samprāptāś ca gaṇeśvarāḥ sarve sahasrahastāś ca sahasrāyudhapāṇayaḥ

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrvabhāga, begins the forty-fourth chapter called “The Manifestation of Nandikeśvara and the Abhiṣeka-Mantra of Nandikeśvara.” Śailādi said: “By the mere remembrance of Rudra, all the Gaṇeśvaras arrived—each with a thousand hands, and with hands bearing a thousand weapons.”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

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

• pūrva-bhāge: in the former section

• nandikeśvara-prādurbhāva: manifestation/appearance of Nandikeśvara

• nandikeśvara-abhiṣeka-mantraḥ: the consecration (abhiṣeka) mantra of Nandikeśvara

• nāma: named

• tricatvāriṃśaḥ adhyāyaḥ: forty-fourth chapter

• śailādiḥ uvāca: Śailādi said

• smaraṇāt eva: from remembrance alone

• rudrasya: of Rudra (Śiva as Pati)

• samprāptāḥ: arrived/assembled

• ca: and

• gaṇeśvarāḥ: lords of the gaṇas (Śiva’s hosts)

• sarve: all

• sahasra-hastāḥ: thousand-handed

• ca: and

• sahasra-āyudha-pāṇayaḥ: whose hands hold a thousand weapons

Speaker

Śailādi

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Gaṇeśvaras
• Nandikeśvara

FAQs

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

It frames Nandikeśvara’s manifestation and consecration as part of Liṅga-centered Śaiva ritual life, showing that remembrance of Rudra (Pati) immediately summons divine support (the gaṇas) for protecting and establishing Śiva-dharma and Liṅga-pūjā.

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

Rudra is presented as Pati whose mere smaraṇa (inner recollection) is efficacious—his presence is not limited by distance or time, and his śakti operates through the gaṇeśvaras, indicating sovereign, responsive lordship over the cosmos and its protective forces.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Rudra-smaraṇa (contemplative remembrance/japa-like recollection) is highlighted as a direct means of invoking Śiva’s grace and protective gaṇa-śakti—an inner practice aligned with Pāśupata orientation where the pashu turns to Pati to loosen pasha (bondage).