Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

कोटिकोटिभिरेवेह कन्दुकः कुण्डकस्तथा । विष्टम्भो गणपोऽष्टाभिर्गणानां कोटिभिस्तथा

Transliteration

koṭikoṭibhireveha kandukaḥ kuṇḍakastathā | viṣṭambho gaṇapo'ṣṭābhirgaṇānāṃ koṭibhistathā

Translation

இங்கே கந்துகன், குண்டகன் கோடி கோடி கணங்களுடன் (சிவசேவையில்) இருந்தனர்; அதுபோல் விஷ்டம்பன், கணபனும் எட்டு முதன்மைக் குழுக்களுடன் கோடிகளான சிவகணங்களுடன் இருந்தனர்।

Word by Word

• कोटि-कोटिभिः: with crores upon crores
• कोटि-कोटिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (कोटि-कोटि = कोटयश्च कोटयश्च); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine instrumental plural

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• इह: here
• इह: अधिकरण (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: here)

• कन्दुकः: Kanduka (name)
• कन्दुकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्दुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• कुण्डकः: Kuṇḍaka (name)
• कुण्डकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थे (likewise)

• विष्टम्भः: Viṣṭambha (name)
• विष्टम्भः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्टम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• गणपः: Gaṇapa (name)
• गणपः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• अष्टाभिः: with eight (by eight)
• अष्टाभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सङ्ख्यावाचक-विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्गे (सामान्यतः), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• गणानाम्: of the gaṇas
• गणानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine genitive plural

• कोटिभिः: with crores
• कोटिभिः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Feminine instrumental plural

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थे (likewise)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Kanduka
• Kundaka
• Vishtambha
• Ganapa

FAQs

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

The verse magnifies Śiva’s divine sovereignty by describing His immeasurable gaṇa-hosts—signifying that the Lord’s manifested (saguṇa) glory and protective power are beyond ordinary counting, inspiring humility and devotion.

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

By portraying Śiva surrounded by innumerable attendants, the text reinforces saguṇa-upāsanā: devotees approach the Liṅga/Śiva as the living Lord of a divine order, attended by gaṇas who embody His will and guardianship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with Śiva-japa—reciting the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while contemplating Śiva’s protective retinue; this supports steadiness (dhāraṇā) and bhakti during worship.