Shloka 31
नन्दिकेश्वरशिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्
The Māhātmya of the Nandikeśvara Śiva-liṅga
आनन्दार्थं शिवस्तस्याः सुप्रसन्नश्च पार्थिवे । तस्मिंल्लिंगे लयं यातः पूर्णांशेन तया हरः
ānandārthaṃ śivastasyāḥ suprasannaśca pārthive | tasmiṃlliṃge layaṃ yātaḥ pūrṇāṃśena tayā haraḥ
For her joy, Śiva became exceedingly gracious in that earthen Liṅga. There, within that Liṅga, Hara—by His complete and undivided presence—entered into absorptive samādhi, revealing Himself fully through the Liṅga for the devotee’s bliss.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava
Sthala Purana: Śiva, pleased by devotion, ‘enters’ and abides fully in an earthen (pārthiva) liṅga. This is a classic liṅga-pratiṣṭhā/āveśa motif: the transcendent Pati makes Himself accessible through a consecrated emblem for the devotee’s ānanda and for loka-hita.
Significance: Validates even a simple clay liṅga as a complete locus of Śiva’s grace when worship is sincere; encourages pārthiva-liṅga pūjā (often done in vrata contexts) as a direct means to receive prasāda.
Type: panchakshara
Role: liberating
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva responds to sincere devotion by making His full grace present through the Liṅga—so the devotee experiences ānanda (spiritual bliss) and is drawn toward inner stillness (laya) and liberation.
The verse highlights the Liṅga as a sacred, accessible form (saguṇa upāsanā) where the transcendent Lord can be realized. Even an earthen Liṅga becomes a true locus of Śiva’s presence when consecrated by devotion.
Linga-pūjā with heartfelt bhakti—offering water, bilva leaves, and repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is implied as a direct means to invite Śiva’s grace and cultivate laya (meditative absorption).