Shloka 20
नन्दिकेश्वरावताराभिषेकविवाहवर्णनम्
Nandikeśvara: Incarnation, Consecration, and Marriage—Description
यः पञ्चनदमासाद्य स्नात्वा जप्त्वेश्वरेश्वरम् । पूजयेच्छिवसायुज्यं प्रयात्येव न संशयः
yaḥ pañcanadamāsādya snātvā japtveśvareśvaram | pūjayecchivasāyujyaṃ prayātyeva na saṃśayaḥ
जो कोई पञ्चनद में पहुँचकर वहाँ स्नान करे, ईश्वरेश्वर के नाम/मन्त्र का जप करे और उनकी पूजा करे—वह भक्त निःसंदेह शिवसायुज्य (शिव में एकत्व) को प्राप्त होता है।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: The tīrtha’s salvific efficacy is stated: reaching Pañcanada, bathing, japa of Īśvareśvara, and worship culminate in Śiva-sāyujya; this functions as the kṣetra’s ‘phala-śruti’.
Significance: Snāna + japa + pūjā at Pañcanada grants Śiva-sāyujya (liberation/union), presented as certain (niścaya).
Type: panchakshara
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that tīrtha-yātrā becomes spiritually complete when joined with śuddhi (sacred bath), japa of the Supreme Lord, and heartfelt pūjā—culminating in Śiva-sāyujya, the liberating nearness/union with Śiva.
By naming Īśvareśvara and prescribing pūjā, the verse emphasizes Saguna upāsanā—devotional worship of Śiva as the approachable Lord (often through Liṅga-pūjā)—as a direct means toward liberation.
A threefold practice: tīrtha-snāna (purificatory bath), mantra-japa of Śiva (commonly aligned with Pañcākṣarī—"Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and formal worship (pūjā) offered with devotion.