Shloka 4
नन्दिकेश्वरशिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्
The Māhātmya of the Nandikeśvara Śiva-liṅga
ब्राह्मणी ऋषिका नाम्ना कस्यचिच्च द्विजन्मनः । सुता विवाहिता कस्मैचिद्द्विजाय विधानतः
brāhmaṇī ṛṣikā nāmnā kasyacicca dvijanmanaḥ | sutā vivāhitā kasmaiciddvijāya vidhānataḥ
There was a Brahmin woman named Ṛṣikā, the daughter of a certain twice-born man. In accordance with the prescribed rites, she was married to a Brahmin.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse sets up the human narrative (a brāhmaṇa girl’s marriage) that later becomes a vehicle for Śiva-liṅga māhātmya (Nandikeśvara-liṅga).
Significance: Didactic framing: dharma-śāstric life events become occasions for turning toward Śiva through vrata/arcana.
FAQs
It establishes a dharmic household setting—marriage performed “according to vidhi”—which the Shiva Purana often uses as the ground where devotion to Lord Shiva and the fruits of karma mature toward grace and liberation.
Though the verse is narrative, it frames a life lived under Vedic discipline; such purity of conduct is repeatedly presented in Shaiva tradition as supportive of Saguna Shiva worship, including Linga-pūjā, vrata, and pilgrimage to Jyotirlingas.
The explicit suggestion is adherence to “vidhi” (proper rite). In Shaiva practice this commonly aligns with daily Shiva worship with mantra (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), purity observances, and vrata discipline, even if not directly named in this line.