Shloka 5

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

दशकोट्या केकराक्षो गणानां समहोत्सवः । अष्टकोट्या च विकृतो गणानां गणनायकः

Transliteration

daśakoṭyā kekarākṣo gaṇānāṃ samahotsavaḥ | aṣṭakoṭyā ca vikṛto gaṇānāṃ gaṇanāyakaḥ

Translation

Among Śiva’s gaṇas, Kekarākṣa—at the head of ten crores—served as the organizer of the grand assembly-festival; and Vikṛta—at the head of eight crores—was the commander and leader of the gaṇas.

Word by Word

• दशकोट्या: with ten crores
• दशकोट्या: Karaṇa/Parimāṇa (करण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (दश कोटयः) — ‘by/with ten crores’ (instrumental of measure/association)

• केकराक्षः: Kekarākṣa (a gaṇa-leader)
• केकराक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केकर + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (केकराणि अक्षीणि यस्य) ‘one who has squinting/uneven eyes’ (proper name)

• गणानाम्: of the gaṇas
• गणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध) बहुवचन

• समहोत्सवः: Samahotsava (name/epithet)
• समहोत्सवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समह + उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (समहस्य उत्सवः) ‘festival/assembly’ (as epithet)

• अष्टकोट्या: with eight crores
• अष्टकोट्या: Karaṇa/Parimāṇa (करण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (अष्ट कोटयः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विकृतः: Vikṛta (a gaṇa)
• विकृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकृत (कृदन्त; √कृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘changed/peculiar’—here as proper name ‘Vikṛta’

• गणानाम्: of the gaṇas
• गणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन

• गणनायकः: leader of the gaṇas
• गणनायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गणानां नायकः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Kekaraksha
• Vikrita

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s sovereign lordship (Pati) expressed through ordered divine service: countless gaṇas function in harmony under appointed leaders, showing that Śiva’s power is not chaotic but perfectly governed for dharma and protection of His devotees.

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

The gaṇas are attendants of Saguna Śiva—His manifest, personal form worshiped in the Liṅga and icons. Remembering Śiva along with His gaṇas reinforces bhakti toward the Lord who is surrounded by divine energies and protectors.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with Śiva-nāma japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—seeking protection and steadiness; one may also worship with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa while meditating on Śiva as the supreme commander of all forces.