Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17
शिवदूतेन युद्धनिश्चयः तथा देवदानवयुद्धारम्भः (Śiva’s Envoy and the Commencement of the Deva–Dānava War)
नन्दीश्वरादयस्सर्वे दानवप्रवरैस्सह । युयुधुश्च महायुद्धे नोक्ता विस्तरतः पृथक्
nandīśvarādayassarve dānavapravaraissaha | yuyudhuśca mahāyuddhe noktā vistarataḥ pṛthak
Nandīśvara et tous les autres (chefs des gaṇa de Śiva), avec les plus éminents des Dānava, combattirent dans cette grande guerre ; leurs duels ne sont pas rapportés séparément avec un long détail.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
It highlights that in the cosmic struggle, Śiva’s gaṇas (divine attendants) act as instruments of dharma under the Lord’s will; the text deliberately compresses the battle details to emphasize the overarching sovereignty of Śiva rather than individual heroics.
Nandīśvara is the foremost attendant and devotee associated with Śiva’s saguna presence and temple tradition; remembering Śiva with his gaṇas supports the devotee’s bhakti toward the manifest Lord (Saguna Śiva), who safeguards order and devotion.
A practical takeaway is steady bhakti: mentally take refuge in Śiva and his attendants (especially Nandīśvara) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating inner fearlessness and alignment with dharma.