द्विजेश्वरावतारः
The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara
मृणालगौरं गजचर्मवाससं गंगातरङ्गोक्षितमौलिदेशकम् । नागेन्द्रहारावलिकण्ठभूषणं किरीटकाच्यंगदकंकणोज्ज्वलम्
mṛṇālagauraṃ gajacarmavāsasaṃ gaṃgātaraṅgokṣitamaulideśakam | nāgendrahārāvalikaṇṭhabhūṣaṇaṃ kirīṭakācyaṃgadakaṃkaṇojjvalam
Siya’y maputi gaya ng tangkay ng lotus, nakadamit ng balat ng elepante; ang tuktok ng Kaniyang jata ay winisikan ng mga alon ng banal na Gaṅgā. Ang Kaniyang leeg ay pinalamutian ng kuwintas ng Hari ng mga Nāga, at Siya’y nagniningning sa diadema, mga armlet at mga pulseras—inihahayag ang lubhang mapalad na saguṇa anyo ni Śiva para sa pagninilay ng deboto.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
The verse presents Śiva’s saguna, auspicious icon for dhyāna: His purity (lotus-stalk radiance), mastery over ego and brute force (elephant-hide), and grace that sanctifies the world (Gaṅgā in His matted hair), guiding the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) through devoted contemplation.
It supports saguna-upāsanā by giving a precise meditative form of Śiva; such contemplation naturally culminates in Liṅga-worship, where the same Śiva is adored as the all-pervading reality, approached through a concrete sacred symbol and daily pūjā.
Practice dhyāna by visualizing Śiva as described while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”; in pūjā, offer water as Gaṅgā-jala, and (where traditional) apply tripuṇḍra bhasma as a reminder of Śiva’s purifying grace.