Shloka 1

अन्धकानुग्रहः—शूलारोपणं, रुद्रस्मरण-फलम्, तथा गाणपत्य-प्रदानम् (अध्याय 93)

Devanagari script

इति श्रीलिङ्गमहापुराणे पूर्वभागे वाराणसीश्रीशैलमाहात्म्यकथनं नाम द्विनवतितमो ऽध्यायः ऋषय ऊचुः अन्धको नाम दैत्येन्द्रो मन्दरे चारुकन्दरे दमितस्तु कथं लेभे गाणपत्यं महेश्वरात्

Transliteration

iti śrīliṅgamahāpurāṇe pūrvabhāge vārāṇasīśrīśailamāhātmyakathanaṃ nāma dvinavatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ ṛṣaya ūcuḥ andhako nāma daityendro mandare cārukandare damitastu kathaṃ lebhe gāṇapatyaṃ maheśvarāt

Translation

Thus, in the Śrī Liṅga Mahāpurāṇa, in the Pūrva-bhāga, the ninety-third chapter called “The Account of the Greatness of Vārāṇasī and Śrīśaila.” The sages said: “Andhaka, lord of the Dānavas—though subdued in the lovely cavern of Mandara—how did he obtain from Maheśvara the status of gāṇapatya, belonging to Śiva’s Gaṇas?”

Word by Word

• iti: thus

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

• pūrva-bhāge: in the earlier section

• vārāṇasī-śrīśaila-māhātmya-kathanam: narration of the greatness of Vārāṇasī and Śrīśaila

• nāma: named

• dvi-navatitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ: ninety-third chapter

• ṛṣayaḥ ūcuḥ: the sages said

• andhakaḥ: Andhaka

• nāma: named/known as

• daitya-indraḥ: king of the demons

• mandare: on/at Mandara (mountain)

• cāru-kandare: in the beautiful cave/cavern

• damitaḥ tu: though/indeed subdued

• katham: how

• lebhe: obtained

• gāṇapatyam: the state of being a Gaṇa of Śiva (membership in Śiva’s retinue)

• maheśvarāt: from Maheśvara (Śiva).

Speaker

Sages (Ṛṣayaḥ) at Naimiṣāraṇya (within Sūta’s overarching narration)

Characters & Entities

• Andhaka
• Maheśvara (Shiva)
• Mandara

FAQs

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

It frames a Shaiva teaching narrative: even a demon subdued by Mahādeva can, through Śiva’s will, be elevated—highlighting that devotion to Pati (Śiva) and His sacred domains (like Śrīśaila) can transform the pashu (soul) beyond former bondage (pāśa).

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as sovereign and salvific: Maheśvara not only restrains adharma (subduing Andhaka) but also bestows divine proximity (gāṇapatya), showing Śiva as both niyantṛ (controller) and anugrahakartṛ (bestower of grace).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is stated in this verse; it introduces a grace-centered Shaiva theme often linked to Pāśupata orientation—discipline (restraint/subjugation of impurity) culminating in Śiva’s anugraha (favor) and service in His gaṇa-sphere.