मङ्गलपत्रिकाग्रहणम् — Reception of the Auspicious Marriage Invitation
मार्कण्डेयश्शिलापाकोऽरुणपालोऽकृतश्रमः । अगस्त्यश्च्यवनो गर्गश्शिलादोऽथ महामुने
mārkaṇḍeyaśśilāpāko'ruṇapālo'kṛtaśramaḥ | agastyaścyavano gargaśśilādo'tha mahāmune
噢大圣仙,当时还有马尔坎德耶、希拉帕迦、阿鲁那帕罗、阿克里塔施罗摩;并且有阿迦斯底耶、契瓦那、伽尔伽与希拉达——皆为著名圣贤。
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; continues the pariṣad enumeration. The mention of Mārkaṇḍeya (iconic Śiva-bhakta) implicitly signals Śiva’s anugraha protecting the devotee from death, a thematic undercurrent even in a list-verse.
Significance: Hearing the names of great Śiva-devotees (e.g., Mārkaṇḍeya) is treated as smaraṇa-sādhana, strengthening bhakti and eligibility for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).
It establishes the authority of the narration by invoking a lineage of revered ṛṣis, implying that Śiva’s glory is affirmed by realized seers and is therefore spiritually trustworthy for seekers of liberation.
By naming eminent sages known in Śaiva memory, the text frames the coming account as part of the living tradition of Saguna Śiva worship—where Śiva is approached through sacred forms, stories, and disciplined devotion.
The practical takeaway is to follow the ṛṣi-path: regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance), and disciplined observances (vrata) as taught in Purāṇic Śaiva tradition.