Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 4
अलकापतेः तपः-लिङ्गप्रतिष्ठा च वरप्राप्तिः / The Lord of Alakā: Austerity, Liṅga-Establishment, and the Receiving of a Boon
भक्ति प्रभावं विज्ञाय शंभोस्तद्दीपमात्रतः । पुरा पुरारेस्संप्राप्य काशिकां चित्प्रकाशिकाम्
bhakti prabhāvaṃ vijñāya śaṃbhostaddīpamātrataḥ | purā purāressaṃprāpya kāśikāṃ citprakāśikām
Nachdem man die Macht der Bhakti zu Śambhu erkannt hatte—selbst aus einem winzigen Zeichen der Verehrung, gleich dem Schein einer Lampe—erlangte man in alter Zeit durch Purāri (Śiva), den Feind Puras, die Stadt Kāśikā, die das reine Bewusstsein erleuchtet.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī is praised as cit-prakāśikā (revealer of Consciousness). Even a small act of bhakti such as offering a lamp to Śambhu is said to lead one to Kāśī by Purāri’s grace—echoing the Kāśī-kṣetra doctrine that Śiva grants taraka and liberation there.
Significance: Residence/arrival in Kāśī is portrayed as a fruit of Śiva-bhakti; Kāśī is famed for granting jñāna and (in later kṣetra theology) liberation through Śiva’s grace at death.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It teaches that even a small act of sincere bhakti—symbolized by offering a lamp—can awaken Śiva’s grace and lead one toward Kāśī, the realm that reveals pure consciousness and supports liberation.
The lamp is a simple upacāra in saguna worship (such as before the Śiva-liṅga). The verse emphasizes that the inner devotion behind the offering, more than its size, draws Śiva (Purāri) and yields profound spiritual fruit.
Dīpa-dāna (lighting/offering a lamp) to Lord Śiva with bhakti—ideally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a focused practice for purification and grace.