Shloka 13

Bhūtavana–Kailāsa–Mandākinī–Rudrapurī: Śiva’s Jeweled Abodes and Perpetual Worship

Devanagari script

गृध्रोलूकमुखैश्चान्यैर् मृगोष्ट्राजमुखैरपि प्रमथैर्विविधैः स्थूलैर् गिरिकूटोपमैः शुभैः

Transliteration

gṛdhrolūkamukhaiścānyair mṛgoṣṭrājamukhairapi pramathairvividhaiḥ sthūlair girikūṭopamaiḥ śubhaiḥ

Translation

മറ്റു പ്രമഥന്മാരും ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു—ചിലർ കഴുകൻ, മൂങ്ങ മുഖമുള്ളവർ; ചിലർ മാൻ, ഒട്ടകം, ആട് മുഖമുള്ളവർ; അവർ നാനാരൂപികളായി, മഹാദേഹികളായി, ശുഭകരരായി, പർവ്വതശിഖരങ്ങളെപ്പോലെ ഉയർന്നുനിന്നു।

Word by Word

• गृध्र (gṛdhra): vulture

• उलूक (ulūka): owl

• मुखैः (mukhaiḥ): with faces

• च (ca): and

• अन्यैः (anyaiḥ): with others

• मृग (mṛga): deer/forest-animal

• उष्ट्र (uṣṭra): camel

• अज (aja): goat

• मुखैः (mukhaiḥ): with faces

• अपि (api): also

• प्रमथैः (pramathaiḥ): by the Pramathas (Shiva’s ganas)

• विविधैः (vividhaiḥ): various, manifold

• स्थूलैः (sthūlaiḥ): huge, corpulent

• गिरिकूटोपमैः (girikūṭopamaiḥ): resembling mountain-peaks

• शुभैः (śubhaiḥ): auspicious, beneficent

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Pramathas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Mahadeva as Pati (the Lord) attended by powerful, awe-inspiring ganas—reminding the worshipper that Linga-puja addresses the supreme ruler of all beings and forces, not a limited deity.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By portraying even fearsome, animal-faced forms as “auspicious,” it points to Shiva-tattva as transcending ordinary dualities (pure/impure, tame/wild), integrating all energies under the Lord’s sovereignty.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative upasana is implied: during Linga-puja or Pashupata-oriented meditation, one visualizes Shiva as Pashupati surrounded by his ganas, cultivating fearlessness, surrender, and steadiness of mind.