Shloka 21

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

तालकेतुः षडास्यश्च चञ्च्वास्यश्च सनातनः । सम्वर्तकस्तथा चैत्रो लकुलीशस्स्वयम्प्रभुः

Transliteration

tālaketuḥ ṣaḍāsyaśca cañcvāsyaśca sanātanaḥ | samvartakastathā caitro lakulīśassvayamprabhuḥ

Translation

Tālaketu, Ṣaḍāsya, Caṅcvāsya, the Eternal (Sanātana), Samvartaka, Caitra, and Lakulīśa—the Self-luminous Lord—(are the revered manifestations/names spoken of here).

Word by Word

• ताल-केतुः: Tālaketu (a gaṇa-name)
• ताल-केतुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative name): ‘तालः केतुः यस्य/ताल-केतुः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• षड्-आस्यः: Ṣaḍāsya (six-faced)
• षड्-आस्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षड् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘षड् आस्यानि यस्य’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• चञ्चु-आस्यः: Cañcvāsya (beak-faced)
• चञ्चु-आस्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चञ्चु (प्रातिपदिक) + आस्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘चञ्चुः (चञ्चु-तुल्यं) आस्यं यस्य’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सनातनः: eternal
• सनातनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• सम्वर्तकः: Samvartaka
• सम्वर्तकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + वर्त् (धातु) + क (प्रातिपदिक-निर्माण)
• Form: कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (ण्वुल्/क-प्रत्ययान्त agent noun): ‘सम्वर्तयति’ इति; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: ‘likewise/also’)

• चैत्रः: Caitra
• चैत्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (proper name)

• लकुलीशः: Lakulīśa
• लकुलीशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लकुलीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (proper name)

• स्वयम्-प्रभुः: self-lord; independent master
• स्वयम्-प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—name/epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय) + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘स्वयमेव प्रभुः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: samvartaka (cosmic dissolution) alluded

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Lakulisha

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse presents a sacred enumeration of Rudra’s names/forms, encouraging smaraṇa (remembrance) of Shiva as the eternal, self-effulgent Lord who governs creation and dissolution—supporting devotion that matures into liberation (moksha) under Pati (Shiva).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

These names point to Saguna Shiva—Shiva apprehended through attributes, forms, and epithets—commonly worshiped through the Linga with nāma-japa and arcana, while recognizing that the same Lord is ultimately self-existent and beyond limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice nāma-japa of Shiva’s names (especially with the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and during Linga-pūjā apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and offer water/bilva while contemplating Shiva as svayamprabhu, the inner light.