Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
शर्वलिङ्गार्चनादेव देवा दैत्याश्च सत्तमाः । अहं त्वं च तथा ब्रह्मन्कथं तद्विस्मृतं त्वया
śarvaliṅgārcanādeva devā daityāśca sattamāḥ | ahaṃ tvaṃ ca tathā brahmankathaṃ tadvismṛtaṃ tvayā
بعبادة لِينغا شَرْفا وحدها، يا خيرَ الكائنات، نال حتى الدِّيفا والدَّيْتيا تمامَ ما قُدِّر لهم؛ وكذلك أنا وأنت، يا براهمن. فكيف نسيتَ ذلك؟
Vishnu (in dialogue addressing Brahma within the Sṛṣṭi narrative of the Rudra Saṃhitā)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a single jyotirliṅga episode; rather a doctrinal claim that liṅga-arcana grants siddhi/fulfillment even to opposing cosmic parties (Devas/Daityas), underscoring Śiva’s impartial lordship and grace.
Significance: Frames liṅga-worship as universally efficacious across varṇa/species/party; remembrance of this principle is itself a safeguard against forgetfulness (vismṛti) born of Māyā.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse asserts that Śiva, as Pati (the Supreme Lord), grants fruition and liberation through sincere Liṅga-arcana; even powerful cosmic beings succeed only by turning to Śiva’s grace, highlighting bhakti as a direct means to spiritual fulfillment.
It presents the Liṅga as the accessible saguna focus through which devotees approach the transcendent nirguna Śiva; worship of the Liṅga becomes the practical doorway to Śiva’s supreme reality and blessings.
Regular Liṅga pūjā (arcana)—offering water, bilva leaves, and mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is implied as the core practice that leads to auspicious results and inner purification.