Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24
नारदप्रश्नवर्णन (Nāradapraśna-varṇana) — “Account of Nārada’s Inquiry”
न ज्ञातं शिवतत्त्वं च पूजाविधिमतः क्रमात् । चरित्रं विविधं तस्य निवेदय मम प्रभो
na jñātaṃ śivatattvaṃ ca pūjāvidhimataḥ kramāt | caritraṃ vividhaṃ tasya nivedaya mama prabho
Ich habe das wahre Wesen Shivas noch nicht erkannt, noch kenne ich die rechte Abfolge der Verehrung gemäß der rituellen Vorschrift. O mein Herr, berichte mir von seinen vielfältigen heiligen Taten und Erzählungen.
Brahmā (requesting instruction about Shiva’s tattva and worship)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse frames liberation-oriented devotion: one seeks both śiva-tattva (right understanding of Pati, the Supreme Lord) and pūjā-krama (right practice). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, knowledge and disciplined worship together mature bhakti and remove bondage (pāśa).
By asking for the prescribed order of worship, the verse points to Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Shiva through accessible forms such as the Śiva-liṅga with proper rites—so the devotee’s mind becomes fit to grasp the deeper śiva-tattva beyond mere external ritual.
It suggests learning and following pūjā-vidhi in sequence—typically including mantra-japa (notably the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), purity disciplines, and liṅga-pūjā—so practice aligns with scripture and supports steady contemplation of Shiva.