Shloka 44

नन्दिकेश्वरावताराभिषेकविवाहवर्णनम्

Nandikeśvara: Incarnation, Consecration, and Marriage—Description

Devanagari script

लब्धो हारश्च परमो देव्याः कण्ठगतस्तथा । वृषेन्द्रश्च शितो नागस्सिंहस्सिंहध्वजस्तथा

Transliteration

labdho hāraśca paramo devyāḥ kaṇṭhagatastathā | vṛṣendraśca śito nāgassiṃhassiṃhadhvajastathā

Translation

Then the Supreme garland was obtained and placed upon the Goddess’s neck. Likewise, the lordly bull (Vṛṣendra), the white serpent, the lion, and the lion-banner were also acquired as her divine insignia and sacred attendants.

Word by Word

• लब्धः: obtained
• लब्धः: क्रिया/विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• हारः: garland/necklace
• हारः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• परमः: supreme
• परमः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; हारः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• देव्याः: of the goddess
• देव्याः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• कण्ठगतः: gone to/placed on the neck
• कण्ठगतः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कण्ठ + गत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कण्ठं गतः)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थ (adverb: likewise/also)

• वृषेन्द्रः: Vṛṣendra (lord of bulls)
• वृषेन्द्रः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः = ‘वृषाणाम् इन्द्रः’ (lord of bulls)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• शितः: white/bright
• शितः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नागः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• नागः: serpent/elephant (here: serpent)
• नागः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सिंहः: lion
• सिंहः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सिंहध्वजः: lion-bannered (one)/lion-flag
• सिंहध्वजः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः = ‘सिंहः ध्वजे यस्य/सिंहचिह्नध्वजः’

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थ

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Nandi
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Devī’s manifest (saguṇa) majesty through sacred emblems—garland, Nandin, serpent, lion, and banner—showing how the Divine is approached through consecrated forms and symbols that awaken bhakti and reverence.

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

Though Liṅga worship points to the transcendent (nirguṇa) reality of Śiva, the Purāṇa also affirms saguṇa worship through visible insignia and attendants (like Nandin and the serpent), which function as supports for devotion and ritual focus in temple and household practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is upacāra-pūjā (offering ornaments, garlands, and banners) to Śiva-Śakti, along with meditating on Nandin as the gateway of devotion; if combined with mantra-japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), these symbols become aids to steadiness and surrender.