Shloka 11

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

आवेशनस्तथाष्टाभिः कोटिभिर्गणनायकः । महाकेशस्सहस्रेण कोटीनां गणपो ययौ

Transliteration

āveśanastathāṣṭābhiḥ koṭibhirgaṇanāyakaḥ | mahākeśassahasreṇa koṭīnāṃ gaṇapo yayau

Translation

ततः आवेशनः गणनायकः अष्टाभिः कोटिभिः सह ययौ; महाकेशोऽपि सहस्रकोट्या गणैः सह गणपो ययौ।

Word by Word

• आवेशनः: Āveśana
• आवेशनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आवेशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha/Upapada (सम्बन्ध/उपपद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'likewise')

• अष्टाभिः: with eight
• अष्टाभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (संख्यावाचक) तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• कोटिभिः: crores (as a measure)
• कोटिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• गणनायकः: leader of the gaṇas
• गणनायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'leader of the gaṇas'

• महाकेशः: Mahākeśa
• महाकेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारय: 'great-haired/with great hair'

• सहस्रेण: by a thousand
• सहस्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• कोटीनाम्: of crores
• कोटीनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (genitive/6th), बहुवचन (plural)

• गणपः: the gaṇa-chief
• गणपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Ganesha
• Ganas
• Aveshana
• Mahakesha

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights the immeasurable sovereignty of Lord Shiva’s divine order: the gaṇas are not merely mythic beings but the organized powers that uphold Shiva’s will in the manifested (saguṇa) cosmos, inspiring the devotee to take refuge in Shiva as Pati, the supreme Lord.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The vast hosts of gaṇas emphasize Saguna Shiva’s lordship—Shiva as the accessible, worship-worthy ruler of the universe. In Linga-worship, devotees honor the same supreme Reality, while this verse portrays His manifested majesty and governance through divine attendants.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate gaṇa-bhāva—devotional service to Shiva—through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and traditional Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of belonging to Shiva’s sacred retinue.