Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
गणेश-षण्मुखयोः विवाहविचारः / Deliberation on the Marriages of Gaṇeśa and Ṣaṇmukha
नारद उवाच । गणेशस्य श्रुता तात सम्यग्जनिरनुत्तमा । चरित्रमपि दिव्यं वै सुपराक्रमभूषितम्
nārada uvāca | gaṇeśasya śrutā tāta samyagjaniranuttamā | caritramapi divyaṃ vai suparākramabhūṣitam
那罗陀说道：“亲爱的啊，我确已圆满听闻伽内沙无与伦比、至为殊胜的诞生因缘；亦听闻其神圣事迹——以非凡英勇为庄严。”
Narada
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is a narrative hinge where Nārada acknowledges completion of Gaṇeśa’s janma-caritra and requests continuation—typical Purāṇic framing to authorize the next teaching.
Significance: Positions kathā-śravaṇa as a meritorious act that prepares the listener for deeper Śaiva instruction; Gaṇeśa’s heroic deeds are treated as dharma-protecting and obstacle-removing for devotees’ spiritual journey.
FAQs
It affirms śravaṇa (devotional listening) to divine narratives as a purifying act—Narada’s reverent acknowledgment frames Gaṇeśa’s birth and deeds as sacred, grace-bestowing kathā within the Shaiva tradition.
By praising Gaṇeśa’s divine origin and heroic līlā, the verse supports Saguna devotion—honoring Shiva’s manifested family and forms—an approach that naturally complements Linga worship as the central emblem of Shiva’s presence.
Śravaṇa and kīrtana: regularly listen to or recite Shiva Purana kathā, beginning auspicious acts with Gaṇeśa-smaraṇa, and then proceed to Shiva-upāsanā (e.g., japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with focused devotion.