Shloka 122

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

नन्दी नन्दीश्वरो नग्नो नग्नव्रतधरः शुचिः लिङ्गाध्यक्षः सुराध्यक्षो युगाध्यक्षो युगावहः

Transliteration

nandī nandīśvaro nagno nagnavratadharaḥ śuciḥ liṅgādhyakṣaḥ surādhyakṣo yugādhyakṣo yugāvahaḥ

Translation

He is Nandī, the Lord of Nandī. He is the unclad ascetic, bearer of the vow of nakedness, and perfectly pure. He is the presiding Lord of the Liṅga, the Lord over the Devas, the overseer of the Yugas, and the One who brings the Yugas into manifestation and onward flow.

Word by Word

• नन्दी (nandī): Nandi, the blissful attendant/principle of auspiciousness

• नन्दीश्वरः (nandīśvaraḥ): the Lord of Nandi (supreme master of the gaṇas and dharma)

• नग्नः (nagnaḥ): unclad, signifying renunciation beyond social marks

• नग्नव्रतधरः (nagnavratadharaḥ): bearer of the vow of naked asceticism (digambara-vrata)

• शुचिः (śuciḥ): pure, stainless, inwardly and outwardly sanctified

• लिङ्गाध्यक्षः (liṅgādhyakṣaḥ): presiding Lord/overseer of the Liṅga (Pati as the inner reality of the symbol)

• सुराध्यक्षः (surādhyakṣaḥ): Lord of the Devas, ruler of divine orders

• युगाध्यक्षः (yugādhyakṣaḥ): overseer of the world-ages (yugas), regulator of time

• युगावहः (yugāvahaḥ): bringer/conveyor of the yugas, the one who sets the cycles of time in motion

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Sahasranama-style hymn within the Linga Purana)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Devas

FAQs

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

By calling Shiva “Liṅgādhyakṣa,” the verse establishes that the Liṅga is not merely a ritual object but the living seat of Pati (the Lord) who presides over and sanctifies all Liṅga-pūjā.

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

It presents Shiva as transcendent and ascetic (nagna, nagnavrata) yet sovereign over cosmic functions—Devas and time itself—showing Shiva-tattva as both beyond worldly marks and the inner governor of creation’s order.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The emphasis on nakedness-vow and purity points to Pāśupata-style renunciation and inner cleansing: reducing pāśa (bondage) through vairāgya, śauca, and steady contemplation of Pati as the Liṅga’s indwelling Lord.