Shloka 2
मङ्गलपत्रिकाग्रहणम् — Reception of the Auspicious Marriage Invitation
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि चरितं शशिमौलिनः । वैवाहिकं सुमाङ्गल्यं सर्वाघौघविनाशनम्
idānīṃ śrotumicchāmi caritaṃ śaśimaulinaḥ | vaivāhikaṃ sumāṅgalyaṃ sarvāghaughavināśanam
હવે હું શશિમૌલી ભગવાન શિવનું ચરિત સાંભળવા ઇચ્છું છું—તેમના વિવાહનું પરમ શુભ, સુમંગળમય વર્ણન, જે સર્વ પાપસમૂહનો નાશ કરે છે।
A sage-questioner (Śaunaka and the Naimiṣāraṇya ṛṣis) addressing Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: This verse requests the ‘vaivāhika’ (marriage) narrative of Śiva, famed as Śaśimauli (moon-crested). It frames the kathā as ‘sumāṅgalya’ and ‘sarvāghaugha-vināśana’ (destroyer of heaps of sins), a typical Purāṇic phala-śruti style valuation of listening.
Significance: Hearing/reciting Śiva’s vivāha-kathā is presented as sin-destroying and auspiciousness-bestowing; in pilgrimage praxis, such kathā is often recited at Śiva temples during marriage rites, pradoṣa gatherings, and Śivarātri observances (contextual).
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse praises śravaṇa (devotional hearing) of Śiva’s līlā—especially His divine marriage—as intrinsically auspicious and capable of dissolving accumulated sin (aghaugha), orienting the devotee toward grace and purification.
By seeking Śiva’s “carita” (deeds), the text emphasizes Saguna devotion—approaching the Supreme through His compassionate, narratable forms and actions—an entry point that supports Linga-worship by deepening bhakti and reverence for Śiva as Pati (Lord) who grants purification.
The implied practice is regular śravaṇa and kīrtana of Śiva-kathā (listening/recitation), ideally alongside simple Shaiva observances such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before or after hearing the narrative.