मङ्गलपत्रिकाग्रहणम् — Reception of the Auspicious Marriage Invitation
चन्द्रश्च मुकुटस्थाने सान्निध्यमकरोत्तदा । लोचनं सुन्दरं ह्यासीत्तृतीयन्तिलकं शुभम्
candraśca mukuṭasthāne sānnidhyamakarottadā | locanaṃ sundaraṃ hyāsīttṛtīyantilakaṃ śubham
Kemudian Bulan mengambil tempatnya pada mahkota, bersemayam di sana dalam kedekatan. Mata-Nya tampak indah menakjubkan, dan mata ketiga yang suci lagi bertuah terserlah bagaikan tilaka keramat—lambang kehadiran Śiva yang beranugerah dalam wujud nyata (saguṇa).
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha
Type: stotra
It highlights Śiva’s compassionate, worshipable form: the Moon adorning His crown and the third eye shining as an auspicious tilaka—signs that the Supreme (Pati) becomes accessible to devotees through saguṇa-dhyāna and bhakti.
While the Liṅga signifies Śiva beyond form, this verse supports saguṇa upāsanā by describing recognizable marks (crescent moon, third eye) used in iconography and meditation—helping the mind steady itself in devotion and proceed toward realization.
Practice Śiva-dhyāna by visualizing the crescent moon in His crown and the radiant third eye; during Mahāśivarātri or daily worship, combine this with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and respectful application of tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as an outer reminder of inner purification.