Shloka 28
नन्दिकेश्वरशिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्
The Māhātmya of the Nandikeśvara Śiva-liṅga
एतस्मिन्समये गंगा साध्वी तां स्वर्धुनी जगौ । ऋषिकां सुप्रसन्नात्मा प्रशंसन्तो च तीद्विधिम्
etasminsamaye gaṃgā sādhvī tāṃ svardhunī jagau | ṛṣikāṃ suprasannātmā praśaṃsanto ca tīdvidhim
At that time, the virtuous Gaṅgā—celebrated as Svardhunī, the celestial river—spoke with a deeply pleased heart, praising the sages and that sacred ordinance of worship and right conduct.
Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the quoted speech is by Goddess Ganga)
Tattva Level: pasha
Sthala Purana: Gaṅgā (Svardhunī) enters the narrative as a sanctifying power who endorses the sages’ vidhi; this functions like a tīrtha-māhātmya frame where the river validates correct worship.
Significance: Affirms tīrtha as a purifier and as a witness to dharma/vidhi; bathing and worship near Gaṅgā is implied to strengthen right conduct and stabilize merit.
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights that purity (sādhvī-bhāva), reverence for sages, and adherence to sacred vidhi are themselves sanctifying forces—aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on disciplined worship leading the soul (paśu) toward Shiva’s grace (pati-anugraha).
By praising “vidhi,” the verse implicitly upholds the importance of prescribed Saguna worship—ritual order, mantra, and right attitude—which stabilizes devotion and prepares the mind for Shiva’s higher realization.
Follow Shiva-pūjā vidhi with a pleased, reverent mind—especially respectful invocation of sages/gurus, disciplined mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara), and purity of conduct as the inner support of outer ritual.