Shloka 16

Shivamurti–Pratishtha Phala: Shivalaya-Nirmana, Kshetra-Mahatmya, Tirtha-Snana, and Mandala-Vidhi

Devanagari script

ज्ञानयोगं समासाद्य गाणपत्यमवाप्नुयात् नीलाद्रिशिखराख्यं वा प्रासादं यः सुशोभनम्

Transliteration

jñānayogaṃ samāsādya gāṇapatyamavāpnuyāt nīlādriśikharākhyaṃ vā prāsādaṃ yaḥ suśobhanam

Translation

ജ്ഞാനയോഗം പ്രാപിച്ചവൻ ‘ഗാണപത്യ’—ഭഗവാന്റെ ഗണങ്ങളിൽ സ്ഥാനം—ലഭിക്കുന്നു. ‘നീലാദ്രിശിഖരം’ എന്ന പേരിലുള്ള മനോഹര പ്രാസാദ-ദേവാലയം സ്ഥാപിച്ച്/ആരാധിക്കുന്നവനും അതേ ഉന്നത പദം പ്രാപിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• ज्ञानयोगम् (jñānayogam): the yoga of liberating knowledge

• समासाद्य (samāsādya): having reached/attained

• गाणपत्यम् (gāṇapatyam): the condition/status of a Gaṇa of Śiva (membership in Śiva’s retinue)

• अवाप्नुयात् (avāpnuyāt): would obtain/attain

• नीलाद्रि-शिखर-आख्यम् (nīlādri-śikhara-ākhyam): named ‘Nīlādri-Śikhara’ (Blue-Mountain Peak)

• वा (vā): or/alternatively

• प्रासादम् (prāsādam): palace-like temple/shrine

• यः (yaḥ): whoever

• सुशोभनम् (suśobhanam): very beautiful/splendid.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It links inner realization (jñāna-yoga) with outer sacred service (a splendid Śiva-prāsāda), teaching that both culminate in proximity to Pati—expressed as attaining gāṇapatya, membership in Śiva’s divine retinue.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati, the Lord whose liberated attendants (Gaṇas) embody freedom from pāśa (bondage). Attaining ‘gāṇapatya’ signals nearness to Śiva-tattva through knowledge that loosens the pasha binding the pashu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Two complementary means are highlighted: jñāna-yoga (liberating insight) and prāsāda-sevā/merit (building or honoring a Śiva-temple such as Nīlādri-Śikhara), both presented as leading to exalted Shaiva attainment.