Dāruvana-parīkṣā: Śaṅkara’s Test and the Linga’s Ritual-Theological Grounding
लिंगं च पूज्यते लोके तत्त्वया कथितं च यत् । तत्तथैव न चान्यद्वा कारणं विद्यते त्विह
liṃgaṃ ca pūjyate loke tattvayā kathitaṃ ca yat | tattathaiva na cānyadvā kāraṇaṃ vidyate tviha
In dieser Welt wird das Liṅga verehrt, und das wahre Prinzip dahinter ist verkündet worden. Genau so ist es—hier gibt es keinen anderen Grund und keine andere Erklärung außer dieser Wahrheit.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Affirms liṅga-pūjā as grounded in tattva (ultimate reality), strengthening niścaya (conviction) and bhakti leading toward Śiva’s anugraha.
Offering: pushpa
It asserts that Liṅga-pūjā rests on tattva—Shiva as the supreme Pati (Lord) whose presence is approached through a sanctified symbol—so the practice is not arbitrary but grounded in revealed spiritual truth.
It validates worship of Shiva in a visible, saguna-support form (the Liṅga) as a correct expression of the underlying nirguna-tattva—one truth expressed through an accessible ritual focus.
Perform Liṅga-pūjā with tattva-smaraṇa (contemplation of Shiva’s supreme reality), ideally joined with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to unite outer worship and inner realization.