Shloka 28

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

सर्वे सहस्रहस्ताश्च जटामुकुटधारिणः । चन्द्ररेखावतंसाश्च नीलकण्ठास्त्रिलोचनाः

Transliteration

sarve sahasrahastāśca jaṭāmukuṭadhāriṇaḥ | candrarekhāvataṃsāśca nīlakaṇṭhāstrilocanāḥ

Translation

All of them were thousand-armed, wearing matted locks as a crown. They were adorned with the crescent-moon mark; all were blue-throated and three-eyed—bearing the auspicious signs of Śiva’s manifest (saguṇa) form.

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• सहस्र-हस्ताः: having a thousand hands
• सहस्र-हस्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः (numeral compound)

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

• जटा-मुकुट-धारिणः: wearing matted-hair crowns
• जटा-मुकुट-धारिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुकुट (प्रातिपदिक) + धारी (कृदन्त; √धृ धारणे)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; धारिन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (agent noun)

• चन्द्र-रेखा-अवतंसाः: having the moon-streak as an ornament
• चन्द्र-रेखा-अवतंसाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रेखा (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुषः (determinative)

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

• नील-कण्ठाः: blue-throated
• नील-कण्ठाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक) + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (descriptive)

• त्रि-लोचनाः: three-eyed
• त्रि-लोचनाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The marks described—jaṭā, candrarekhā, trinetra, nīlakaṇṭha—are iconic identifiers of Śiva’s saguṇa manifestation; here they are mirrored by gaṇas, implying participation in the Lord’s qualities during the utsava.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: samudra-manthana allusion (nīlakaṇṭha mark)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It contemplates the recognizable auspicious signs of Śiva—three eyes, blue throat, and the crescent moon—showing how the infinite Lord becomes approachable through saguṇa attributes, so the devotee’s mind can rest steadily in reverence and devotion.

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

The Liṅga is the formless sign of the Supreme (nirguṇa-brahman indicated through a symbol), while this verse highlights Śiva’s saguṇa marks used in dhyāna (iconic meditation). Both lead to the same Pati (Lord) when worship is done with purity and bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Śiva-dhyāna by visualizing the three-eyed, blue-throated Lord crowned with jaṭā and the crescent moon, while softly repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”; optionally accompany with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness.