Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

सन्नाहश्शतकोट्या हि कुमुदो गणपस्तथा । अमोघः कोकिलश्चैव शतकोट्या गणाधिपः

Transliteration

sannāhaśśatakoṭyā hi kumudo gaṇapastathā | amoghaḥ kokilaścaiva śatakoṭyā gaṇādhipaḥ

Translation

“桑那诃”具百俱胝之军势，“俱牟陀”亦为伽那波；又有“阿摩伽”与“拘吉罗”——各各皆为众伽那之主，统领百俱胝随从。

Word by Word

• सन्नाहः: Sannāha (name)
• सन्नाहः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्नाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• शत-कोट्या: with a hundred crores
• शत-कोट्या: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (शतं कोटयः यस्य/यया = शतकोटि); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine instrumental singular

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• कुमुदः: Kumuda (name)
• कुमुदः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमुद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• गणपः: Gaṇapa (name)
• गणपः: कर्ता (Apposition/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यार्थे (likewise)

• अमोघः: Amogha (name)
• अमोघः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमोघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• कोकिलः: Kokila (name)
• कोकिलः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोकिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis)

• शत-कोट्या: with a hundred crores
• शत-कोट्या: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Feminine instrumental singular

• गणाधिपः: lord of the gaṇas
• गणाधिपः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गणानाम् अधिपः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine nominative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sannaha
• Kumuda
• Amogha
• Kokila
• Ganas

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It magnifies the immeasurable, ordered power of Lord Shiva’s gaṇas—divine attendants who execute Rudra’s will—showing that the cosmic functions supporting dharma are upheld by vast, disciplined forces under Shiva’s sovereignty.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By naming gaṇa-lords and their immense retinues, the verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Shiva with attributes, hosts, and divine governance—supporting devotional worship where the Liṅga represents Shiva’s supreme presence while his gaṇas symbolize his active protection and command.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Shiva as Gaṇādhipati (Lord of the gaṇas) while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating refuge in his protective order; optionally accompany japa with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva marks of surrender.