Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

गणसमागमः (Śiva Summons the Gaṇas for the Great Festival)

Devanagari script

षष्टिस्सर्वान्तकः श्रीमान्तथैव विकृताननः । गणानान्दुन्दुभोष्टाभिः कोटिकोटिभिर्गणनायकः

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭissarvāntakaḥ śrīmāntathaiva vikṛtānanaḥ | gaṇānāndundubhoṣṭābhiḥ koṭikoṭibhirgaṇanāyakaḥ

Translation

“彼即是娑什底（Ṣaṣṭi），亦名萨尔万塔迦（Sarvāntaka）——尽灭一切者；又是吉祥光耀的室利曼（Śrīmān）；同样也是毗迦利塔那那（Vikṛtānana）——奇妙之容者。众伽那之战鼓（dundubhi）轰鸣环绕之中，他立为伽那之主，随从俱胝复俱胝。”

Word by Word

• षष्टिः: Sixty (named/numbered)
• षष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; संख्या

• सर्वान्तकः: Sarvāntaka
• सर्वान्तकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + अन्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्य अन्तकः) ‘destroyer of all’ (proper name)

• श्रीमान्: splendid/illustrious
• श्रीमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रीमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (possessing splendour)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकार (thus/also)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/अवधारण (indeed/just)

• विकृताननः: Vikṛtānana
• विकृताननः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विकृत + आनन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (विकृतम् आननं यस्य) ‘one with a deformed/strange face’ (proper name/epithet)

• गणानाम्: of the gaṇas
• गणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन

• दुन्दुभ: drum
• दुन्दुभ: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभि/दुन्दुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग); ‘drum’

• उष्टाभिः: with camels (uṣṭā)
• उष्टाभिः: Karaṇa/Parimāṇa (करण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; ‘female camel’ (here as part of compound-name)

• कोटिकोटिभिः: with crores upon crores
• कोटिकोटिभिः: Karaṇa/Parimāṇa (करण/परिमाण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (कोटयश्च कोटयश्च) ‘crores upon crores’

• गणनायकः: leader of the gaṇas
• गणनायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गणानां नायकः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes Śiva’s sovereign order: countless gaṇas move under a single divine leadership, teaching that the cosmos—however vast—remains governed by Mahādeva’s will, and that devotion aligns the individual (paśu) with the Lord (Pati) beyond fear of dissolution.

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

By portraying Śiva with names and attendants, the text highlights Saguna Śiva—worshipped through form, names, and divine retinue—supporting linga-upāsanā where the devotee approaches the transcendent through a tangible, grace-bestowing presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-smaraṇa of Śiva (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with focused visualization of Śiva as Gaṇanāyaka, supported by traditional aids like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa to steady bhakti and inner discipline.