Shloka 3
नन्दिकेश्वरशिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्
The Māhātmya of the Nandikeśvara Śiva-liṅga
सूत उवाच । साधु पृष्टमृषिश्रेष्ठा नन्दिकेशाश्रितं वचः । तदहं कथयाम्यद्य श्रवणात्पुण्यवर्द्धनम्
sūta uvāca | sādhu pṛṣṭamṛṣiśreṣṭhā nandikeśāśritaṃ vacaḥ | tadahaṃ kathayāmyadya śravaṇātpuṇyavarddhanam
سوت نے کہا—اے بہترین رشیو، تم نے اچھا سوال کیا ہے؛ یہ کلام نندیکیش کے سہارے قائم ہے۔ اس لیے آج میں اسے بیان کرتا ہوں؛ محض سننے سے پُنّیہ بڑھتا ہے۔
Suta Goswami
Sthala Purana: Programmatic narration marker: Sūta affirms the question and promises a puṇya-increasing account ‘grounded in Nandikeśa’. This is a standard Purāṇic framing for a forthcoming māhātmya/itihāsa.
Significance: Establishes śravaṇa (hearing) itself as a sādhana that increases puṇya—preparatory to grace—mirroring Purāṇic pedagogy where kathā-śravaṇa is a devotional act.
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights śravaṇa (devout listening) as a primary Shaiva practice: hearing authentic teachings connected to Shiva’s attendants like Nandikeśa purifies the mind and increases puṇya, preparing the seeker for bhakti and liberation under Pati (Shiva).
By emphasizing a Nandikeśa-rooted teaching and the merit gained through hearing, the verse frames Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship as something learned through faithful transmission—listening to Shiva-kathā leads to correct devotion, pilgrimage, and ritual understanding in the Kotirudra context.
The implied practice is regular śravaṇa of Shiva Purana (Shiva-kathā) with devotion; as a takeaway, one may listen while mentally repeating the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating steadiness and purity.