Shloka 36
Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)
नीलकंठ नमस्तेस्तु सद्योजाताय वै नमः । वृषध्वज नमस्तेस्तु वामांगगिरिजाय च
nīlakaṃṭha namastestu sadyojātāya vai namaḥ | vṛṣadhvaja namastestu vāmāṃgagirijāya ca
Salutations to You, O Nīlakaṇṭha, the Blue-throated Lord; indeed, salutations to You as Sadyojāta. Salutations to You, O Vṛṣadhvaja, whose banner bears the bull; and salutations also to You, with Girijā (Pārvatī) abiding on Your left side.
Suta Goswami (narrating the hymn/praise within the Shatarudra context)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Ardhanārīśvara
Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara
Sthala Purana: The verse invokes Nīlakaṇṭha and also the pañcabrahma face Sadyojāta; paired with ‘vāmāṅga-girijā’ (Śiva with Śakti on the left), it suits the Tryambaka/three-eyed Śiva focus and pañcabrahma worship prevalent in many jyotirliṅga kṣetras.
Significance: Meditation on Śiva as Nīlakaṇṭha (protector) and as Śiva-Śakti unity supports healing, protection from विष (poison) of saṃsāra, and grace leading to loosening of pāśa.
Mantra: नीलकंठ नमस्तेस्तु सद्योजाताय वै नमः । वृषध्वज नमस्तेस्तु वामांगगिरिजाय च
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
Cosmic Event: Samudra-manthana poison episode is implicitly recalled by ‘Nīlakaṇṭha’ (Hālāhala containment).
FAQs
It praises Shiva through specific sacred epithets—Nīlakaṇṭha, Sadyojāta, and Vṛṣadhvaja—affirming Saguna Shiva as the accessible Lord (Pati) who grants grace and liberation when remembered with devotion.
These names are used in nāma-japa and stotra worship of Saguna Shiva, which is commonly centered on the Śiva-liṅga; the verse supports approaching the transcendent Lord through His compassionate forms and symbols (bull-banner, blue throat, five-faced aspects).
Practice nāma-japa by repeating these names with the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering bilva leaves to the liṅga, and meditating on Sadyojāta as Shiva’s grace-bestowing face while maintaining a devotional (bhakti) focus.