Shloka 41
नन्दिकेशावतारवर्णनम् (Nandikeśa Avatāra Varṇanam) — “Account of the Descent/Origin of Nandikeśvara”
तदोत्सवो महानासीन्ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः । आदृत्य मां तथा लिंगं तुष्टुवुर्हर्षिताश्च ते
tadotsavo mahānāsīnnanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ | ādṛtya māṃ tathā liṃgaṃ tuṣṭuvurharṣitāśca te
That celebration became truly grand; the hosts of Apsarās danced. With reverence they honored Me as well as the Liṅga, and, filled with joy, they offered praises.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: A celestial utsava (festival) arises around Śiva’s manifested presence and the Liṅga; the devas and apsarās respond with dance and stuti, marking divine approval of Liṅga-upāsanā.
Significance: Models the Purāṇic ideal that honoring both Śiva (personal Lord) and the Liṅga (iconic/arca focus) yields joy (harṣa) and auspiciousness; encourages temple-festival bhakti as a vehicle of anugraha.
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights that true auspiciousness arises when devotion is directed to Śiva along with reverence to the Liṅga, the accessible Saguna focus through which the bound soul (paśu) approaches Pati (Lord Śiva) by bhakti.
The verse explicitly places honor to the Liṅga alongside honoring Śiva, showing that Liṅga-pūjā is not mere symbolism but a sanctioned devotional means to approach Śiva’s manifest presence and receive grace.
It suggests celebratory yet reverent Liṅga-upāsanā—praise (stuti), devotional singing, and worship offered with joy; this aligns well with Mahāśivarātri-style practices such as abhiṣeka, chanting “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and offering heartfelt stotra.