Shloka 35

नन्दिकेश्वरावताराभिषेकविवाहवर्णनम्

Nandikeśvara: Incarnation, Consecration, and Marriage—Description

Devanagari script

पितामहोपि भगवन्नियोगाच्छङ्करस्य वै । चकार नंदिनस्सर्व्वमभिषेकं समाहितः

Transliteration

pitāmahopi bhagavanniyogācchaṅkarasya vai | cakāra naṃdinassarvvamabhiṣekaṃ samāhitaḥ

Translation

Even Pitāmaha (Brahmā), acting under the divine command of Śaṅkara, performed—fully composed in mind—the entire consecratory ablution (abhiṣeka) for Nandin.

Word by Word

• pitāmahaḥ: Pitāmaha (Brahmā/grandsire)
• pitāmahaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• api: also
• api: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• bhagavat-niyogāt: from the command of the Lord
• bhagavat-niyogāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat+niyoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘of the Lord’ + niyoga), पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन

• śaṅkarasya: of Śaṅkara
• śaṅkarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• cakāra: did, performed
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• naṃdinaḥ: of Nandin
• naṃdinaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• sarvam: entire, all
• sarvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; qualifies abhiṣekam

• abhiṣekam: consecration, anointing
• abhiṣekam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: abhiṣeka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• samāhitaḥ: composed, attentive
• samāhitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√dhā (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; used adjectivally for pitāmahaḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it depicts Brahmā performing Nandin’s abhiṣeka under Śiva’s explicit command—highlighting Śiva’s lordship over creator-god Brahmā.

Significance: Affirms that Śiva’s grace-order (anugraha-ājñā) governs even Brahmā; encourages devotees to honor Nandin and participate in abhiṣeka as a grace-bearing rite.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose command even Brahmā follows, and it highlights that true worship is both ritual (abhiṣeka) and inner steadiness (samāhita), aligning the soul toward Śiva’s grace.

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

Abhiṣeka is a primary Saguna mode of Śiva-worship in the Purāṇas: through sanctifying water, mantra, and devotion, the devotee approaches the Lord’s accessible form, while remembering that the rite succeeds by Śiva’s own will.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform abhiṣeka with a collected mind (samāhita), ideally alongside Śiva-mantra japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), treating the act as disciplined devotion rather than mere ceremony.