Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
शिवागमन-नाद-समागमः (Śiva’s Advent, the Drum-Sound, and the Cosmic Assembly)
काष्ठागूढश्चतुष्षष्ट्या सुकेशो वृषभस्तथा । कोटिभिस्सप्तभिश्चैत्रो नकुलीशस्त्वयं प्रभुः
kāṣṭhāgūḍhaścatuṣṣaṣṭyā sukeśo vṛṣabhastathā | koṭibhissaptabhiścaitro nakulīśastvayaṃ prabhuḥ
Parmi eux, Kāṣṭhāgūḍha est compté au nombre de soixante-quatre ; de même Sukeśa et Vṛṣabha. Et Caitra est compté avec sept koṭis ; ce Seigneur est Nakulīśa.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: The mention of Nakulīśa evokes the Pāśupata lineage (Nakulīśa as paradigmatic teacher), but the verse itself is a gaṇa/leader enumeration within the Kailāsa journey narrative, not a shrine-origin.
Significance: For Śaiva Siddhānta and allied traditions, recalling Nakulīśa signals the authority of Śiva’s transmission (anugraha through guru-paramparā), encouraging seekers to approach Śiva via disciplined practice and initiation.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It underscores that the one Supreme Pati (Lord Shiva) is praised through many names and enumerations; the multiplicity of forms points to Shiva’s sovereignty over creation while remaining the single, highest Lord.
By listing distinct names/forms such as Nakulīśa, the text supports Saguna-upāsanā—devotion to Shiva with attributes—while implying that these are expressions of the same Lord who is ultimately worshipped as the one Shiva, including through the Linga as His abiding presence.
A practical takeaway is nama-japa (repetition) and nama-smaraṇa (remembrance) of Shiva’s names—especially alongside Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—as a devotional discipline for inner purification.