Shloka 24
नन्दिकेशावतारवर्णनम् (Nandikeśa Avatāra Varṇanam) — “Account of the Descent/Origin of Nandikeśvara”
महासमाधिसंलीनस्स शिलादो महामुनिः । नाशृणोत्तद्गिरं शम्भोर्भक्त्यधीनरतस्य वै
mahāsamādhisaṃlīnassa śilādo mahāmuniḥ | nāśṛṇottadgiraṃ śambhorbhaktyadhīnaratasya vai
महासमाधिसंलीनः स महामुनिः शिलादः शम्भोः तद्गिरं नाशृणोत्; स भक्त्यधीनरतो मनसा निमग्नः।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga story; emphasizes the devotee’s absorption such that even Śiva’s speech is not cognitively registered until a further act of grace intervenes.
Significance: Models ‘bhaktyadhīnatā’—devotion so total it suspends external awareness; points to the need for Śiva’s active bestowal (anugraha) beyond the devotee’s effort.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights that when bhakti matures into mahā-samādhi, the devotee’s awareness turns inward toward Śiva (Pati), and ordinary external sounds lose their hold—showing devotion as a direct means to inner union and liberation.
The verse depicts the devotee’s absorption in Śambhu through loving contemplation; in Shaiva practice this often begins with saguna upāsanā—such as Linga worship and mantra-japa—which ripens into one-pointed samādhi where the presence of Śiva is experienced beyond external perception.
Steady dhyāna with bhakti—especially Shiva mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) performed with focused mind—leading toward deeper samādhi; supportive Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa may be adopted as aids to remembrance.