Shloka 13
नन्दिकेश्वरावताराभिषेकविवाहवर्णनम्
Nandikeśvara: Incarnation, Consecration, and Marriage—Description
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा शिरोमालां कुशेशयमयीं निजाम् । समुन्मुच्य बबन्धाशु मम कण्ठे कृपानिधिः
nandīśvara uvāca | evamuktvā śiromālāṃ kuśeśayamayīṃ nijām | samunmucya babandhāśu mama kaṇṭhe kṛpānidhiḥ
难提伊湿伐罗说道：“说罢此言，慈悲之海——大自在天湿婆——立刻取下他自己那以莲花编成的花鬘，迅速系在我的颈上。”
Nandīśvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the scene functions as a hagiographic marker of Śiva’s grace toward His foremost gaṇa (Nandī) through bestowal of a divine insignia (mālā).
Significance: Models the Siddhāntic theme that the Lord’s anugraha is personal and tangible—grace is conferred as a ‘mark’ of belonging (śiva-cihna), inspiring dāsya-bhakti and guru-bhāva toward Śiva’s attendants.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (bestowing grace): the Lord personally honors His devotee (Nandi) by placing His own garland, showing that liberation and spiritual elevation arise foremost from the Lord’s compassion, received through steadfast bhakti.
The verse is a Saguna-Śiva moment—Śiva acts in a personal, intimate way to bless His attendant. Such leelas strengthen devotion that later matures into steady Linga-worship, where the devotee approaches Śiva as the compassionate Pati (Lord) who accepts offerings and grants inner purity.
The takeaway is devotional surrender and receiving Śiva’s prasāda: offer flowers (especially lotus where appropriate), perform reverent japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and cultivate the attitude of being “garlanded” by Śiva’s grace—i.e., living as His servant with humility and steadiness.