Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 48
अवभृथस्नान-तीर्थयात्रा-तेजोदर्शनम् | Avabhṛtha Bath, Tīrtha-Pilgrimage, and the Vision of Divine Radiance
द्रष्टव्यश्चेति युष्माभिः प्राग्गणेशसमागमात् । तत्प्रसादार्थमचिरान्नंदी तत्रागमिष्यति
draṣṭavyaśceti yuṣmābhiḥ prāggaṇeśasamāgamāt | tatprasādārthamacirānnaṃdī tatrāgamiṣyati
“พวกท่านพึงได้เฝ้าดูพระองค์ก่อนจะไปพบพระคเณศ เพื่อให้ได้พระกรุณา นันทิจะมาถึงที่นั่นในไม่ช้า”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: The verse functions as a narrative instruction within the Meru/Kumāraśikhara episode: the sages are told to seek Nandī’s darśana first, as an access-point to Śiva’s favor, before approaching Gaṇeśa.
Significance: Models the Śaiva pilgrimage etiquette: approaching Śiva’s parivāra (Nandī) to obtain prasāda (grace/permission) before entering deeper sanctity (meeting Gaṇeśa/Śiva’s inner circle).
FAQs
The verse highlights that divine progress begins with prasāda (grace): one should seek the right access-point to grace—here symbolized by Nandī—so that the forthcoming encounter (with Gaṇeśa) becomes spiritually fruitful.
In Saguna Shiva worship, Nandī is revered as Shiva’s foremost attendant and exemplar of devotion. Approaching Nandī signifies preparing the heart with humility and bhakti before engaging other sacred encounters, aligning one’s intention toward Shiva’s grace.
A practical takeaway is to begin worship by seeking grace through respectful invocation of Shiva’s attendants and gatekeepers—mentally offering pranāma to Nandī, then proceeding with mantra-japa (such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and focused devotion.