Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
देवस्तुतिः (Devastuti) — Hymn/Praise of the Devas
शालग्रामशिला च त्वं शिलासु वृषभध्वज । पूज्य रूपेषु सर्वेषु नर्मदालिंगमेव हि
śālagrāmaśilā ca tvaṃ śilāsu vṛṣabhadhvaja | pūjya rūpeṣu sarveṣu narmadāliṃgameva hi
يا ربَّ شِيفا ذا رايةِ الثور! بين الأحجار أنتَ شِلا شالاغراما؛ وبين جميع الصور المُبجَّلة الجديرة بالعبادة أنتَ حقًّا لِنغا نَرْمَدا—الأسمى والأجدر بالسجود والتقديس.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s glory to the sages at Naimisharanya, as typical of the Purana’s frame)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara
Sthala Purana: The verse elevates the Narmadā-borne natural liṅga as supremely worship-worthy; in Śaiva pilgrimage imagination the Narmadā is a liṅga-tīrtha par excellence, with Oṃkāreśvara/Māṃdhātā as the river’s central liṅga-kṣetra where Śiva is adored as self-manifest and granting siddhi through darśana and abhiṣeka.
Significance: Darśana/abhiṣeka of a svayambhū-liṅga and reverence to Narmadā-liṅgas is praised as highly meritorious, associated with purification of pāśa (bondage) and strengthening bhakti leading toward Śiva’s anugraha.
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse ranks sacred emblems of divinity and declares that Shiva is especially accessible through the Liṅga—most notably the naturally sanctified Narmadā Liṅga—affirming bhakti (devotional worship) as a direct means toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.
It presents the Liṅga as a pre-eminent saguna (worshipable) manifestation of Shiva: though Shiva is ultimately nirguna, devotees approach Him through consecrated forms, and the Narmadā Liṅga is praised as exceptionally worthy for pūjā and abhiṣeka.
Perform Liṅga-pūjā—especially Narmadā Liṅga abhiṣeka with water (and traditional offerings), while mentally repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating steady devotion and inner surrender.