Shloka 2

Matsya Purana — Kṛṣṇāṣṭamī Vrata: Monthly Śiva-Names

Devanagari script

शंकरं मार्गशिरसि शम्भुं पौषे ऽभिपूजयेत् माघे महेश्वरं देवं महादेवं च फाल्गुने //

Transliteration

śaṃkaraṃ mārgaśirasi śambhuṃ pauṣe 'bhipūjayet māghe maheśvaraṃ devaṃ mahādevaṃ ca phālgune //

Translation

In the month of Mārgaśīrṣa one should worship Śaṅkara; in Pauṣa, Śambhu; in Māgha, the Lord Maheśvara; and in Phālguna, Mahādeva.

Word by Word

• शंकरम् (śaṃkaram): Śaṅkara, the auspicious one (Śiva)

• मार्गशिरसि (mārgaśirasi): in (the month of) Mārgaśīrṣa

• शम्भुम् (śambhum): Śambhu, the beneficent one (Śiva)

• पौषे (pauṣe): in (the month of) Pauṣa

• अभिपूजयेत् (abhipūjayet): should worship/devoutly honor

• माघे (māghe): in (the month of) Māgha

• महेश्वरम् (maheśvaram): Maheśvara, the great Lord (Śiva)

• देवम् (devam): the god, the divine Lord

• महादेवम् (mahādevam): Mahādeva, the great god (Śiva)

• च (ca): and

• फाल्गुने (phālgune): in (the month of) Phālguna.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu on vrata and worship observances)

Entities Mentioned

• Shiva (Śaṅkara/Śambhu/Maheśvara/Mahādeva)
• Mārgaśīrṣa
• Pauṣa
• Māgha
• Phālguna

Tags

• Vrata
• Shaiva
• Ritual Calendar
• Puja Vidhi
• Matsya Purana

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a ritual-calendar instruction prescribing which epithet of Śiva to worship in specific lunar months.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It supports nitya/naimittika dharma by giving a structured month-wise worship regimen; such regulated observance is presented as appropriate conduct for both householders and rulers who maintain religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

The significance is ritual rather than architectural: it encodes a month-by-month puja-krama (worship sequence) using Śiva’s epithets, useful for planning vrata schedules and temple/home liturgy.