Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
ब्रह्मोवाच । श्रूयतामृषयः सर्वे सामराः प्रेमतत्पराः । शिवपूजाविधिं प्रीत्या कथये भुक्तिमुक्तिदम्
brahmovāca | śrūyatāmṛṣayaḥ sarve sāmarāḥ prematatparāḥ | śivapūjāvidhiṃ prītyā kathaye bhuktimuktidam
Brahmā sprach: „Hört, ihr alle Weisen—zusammen mit den Göttern—standhaft in liebender Hingabe. Mit Freude werde ich die Weise der Verehrung Śivas darlegen, die sowohl weltliche Erfüllung als auch Befreiung (mokṣa) gewährt.“
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific (sthāla) passage; it functions as a doctrinal preface announcing Śiva-pūjā as the means to both bhukti and mukti.
Significance: Frames Śiva-worship as the integrated path yielding worldly well-being (bhukti) and liberation (mukti), a common Purāṇic promise that motivates vrata, dāna, and daily pūjā.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It frames Śiva-pūjā as a complete path that can grant both bhukti (rightful worldly well-being) and mukti (liberation), emphasizing devotion (prema) as the proper inner attitude for worship.
By announcing the “Śiva-pūjā-vidhi,” Brahmā signals an upcoming practical regimen of worship typically directed to Saguna Śiva—commonly through the Śiva-liṅga—where form-based devotion becomes a doorway to realizing Śiva’s highest grace.
The verse specifically points to learning and performing Śiva-pūjā-vidhi with loving focus; it implies disciplined ritual worship supported by devotional contemplation, which in later context is commonly aligned with mantra-japa and purity observances.