Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
तत्रागत्य ऋषीन्सर्वान्देवांश्चाहं तथा मुने । शिवपूजाविधिं सम्यगब्रुवं सकलेष्टदम्
tatrāgatya ṛṣīnsarvāndevāṃścāhaṃ tathā mune | śivapūjāvidhiṃ samyagabruvaṃ sakaleṣṭadam
„Dort angekommen, o Weiser, sprach ich zu allen ṛṣis und ebenso zu den Göttern und lehrte in rechter Weise das vollständige Verfahren der Śiva-Verehrung—die alles Erwünschte gewährt.“
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga; the verse depicts dissemination of Śiva’s worship-method: Brahmā teaches ṛṣis and devas the complete śivapūjāvidhi, described as ‘sakaleṣṭada’—a formula for worldly and spiritual attainments culminating in grace.
Significance: Positions correct Śiva-pūjā as a comprehensive sādhana granting ‘iṣṭa’ (desired ends): dharma-artha-kāma and, in Siddhānta reading, ultimately mokṣa through Śiva’s anugraha overcoming pāśa.
Role: teaching
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
The verse emphasizes that correct, tradition-aligned worship of Lord Śiva is itself a complete spiritual path—capable of granting both worldly fulfillments and the highest good, culminating in Śiva’s grace and liberation.
By highlighting “Śiva-pūjā-vidhi,” it points to structured worship of Saguna Śiva—commonly through the Śiva-liṅga—where devotion, purity, and right procedure make the worship a direct means to receive Śiva’s blessings.
It implies learning and following Śiva-pūjā-vidhi: offering water and bilva leaves to the liṅga, reciting the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and maintaining inner reverence—so the outer rite becomes a focused meditation on Śiva.