Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4
लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः
Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi
ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यैः शूद्रैर्वा पूज्यते शिवः । कथं कार्यं च तद् ब्रूहि यथा व्यासमुखाच्छ्रुतम्
brāhmaṇaiḥ kṣatriyairvaiśyaiḥ śūdrairvā pūjyate śivaḥ | kathaṃ kāryaṃ ca tad brūhi yathā vyāsamukhācchrutam
إنَّ شِيفا يُعبَدُ من البراهمة والكشاتريا والفيشيا وكذلك الشودرا. فحدِّثْنا كيف تُؤدَّى تلك العبادة، كما سمعتَها تمامًا من فمِ فياسا.
Sages at Naimiṣāraṇya (addressing Sūta Gosvāmī)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a sthala account; the verse asserts the universality of Śiva-worship across varṇas, preparing for a generally applicable arcana-vidhi.
Significance: Affirms adhikāra (eligibility) in devotion: Śiva as Paśupati receives worship from all social orders, emphasizing bhakti and right method over birth.
FAQs
It establishes that devotion to Pati (Śiva) is not restricted by social class; sincere bhakti and right method are primary, supporting the Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis on Śiva’s grace as the liberating power.
By affirming that all varṇas worship Śiva, it implicitly includes accessible forms of Saguna worship such as Śiva-liṅga pūjā, where the devotee approaches Śiva through a concrete emblem while aiming for His transcendent reality.
The verse prompts inquiry into the “proper method” (vidhi) of Śiva-pūjā as transmitted by Vyāsa—typically involving mantra-japa (notably Śiva’s names), offerings to the liṅga, and disciplined devotion; specifics are expected in the following verses.