Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25
शिवागमन-नाद-समागमः (Śiva’s Advent, the Drum-Sound, and the Cosmic Assembly)
अशनिर्भानुकश्चैव चतुष्षष्ट्या सनातनः । नंदीश्वरो गणाधीशः शतकोट्या महाबलः
aśanirbhānukaścaiva catuṣṣaṣṭyā sanātanaḥ | naṃdīśvaro gaṇādhīśaḥ śatakoṭyā mahābalaḥ
และมี ‘อศนิรภานุกะ’ ด้วย อีกทั้งในหมู่หกสิบสี่ผู้สำคัญมี ‘สนาตนะ’ ผู้เป็นนิรันดร์ นันทีศวรเป็นเจ้าแห่งคณะคณา มีกำลังยิ่งใหญ่ดุจหนึ่งร้อยโกฏิ
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Cosmic Event: Sṛṣṭi-kathā framing: manifestation/organization of Śiva’s gaṇas within the creation narrative
FAQs
The verse glorifies Śiva’s Gaṇas—especially Nandīśvara—as embodiments of steadfast devotion and divine capability. In a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, honoring Śiva’s attendants reinforces bhakti and humility: proximity to Pati (Śiva) is attained through reverence for His divine community and disciplined service.
Nandīśvara is inseparable from Saguna Śiva worship: Nandī stands as the foremost devotee and gatekeeper of Śiva’s presence, often positioned facing the Liṅga. Remembering Nandī and the Gaṇas frames Liṅga worship as entering Śiva’s sacred order (gaṇa-dharma) with devotion, purity, and reverence.
A practical takeaway is to begin Śiva-pūjā by saluting Nandī (Nandī-prāṇāma) and cultivating gaṇa-bhāva—devotional service and discipline. If following Śaiva practice, combine this with pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and, where customary, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness in worship.