Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26
त्रिपुरमोहनम्
Tripuramohana — “The Delusion/Enchanting of Tripura”
अर्थानुपार्ज्य बहुशो द्वादशायतनानि वै । परितः परिपूज्यानि किमन्यैरिह पूजितैः
arthānupārjya bahuśo dvādaśāyatanāni vai | paritaḥ paripūjyāni kimanyairiha pūjitaiḥ
Nachdem man immer wieder Mittel zusammengetragen hat, soll man ringsum in voller Ehrfurcht die zwölf heiligen Wohnstätten (Śivas) verehren. Sind diese gebührend geehrt, wozu bedarf es hier noch irgendeiner anderen Verehrung?
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava
Sthala Purana: The ‘twelve abodes’ are best read as the canonical dvādaśa-jyotirliṅga circuit: self-manifesting liṅgas where Śiva’s light-presence is celebrated; the verse urges repeated resource-gathering to worship them comprehensively.
Significance: Affirms jyotirliṅga-darśana and pūjā as a comprehensive Śaiva sādhana; ‘what need of other worship’ implies these sites epitomize Śiva’s accessible grace for householders and ascetics alike.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse exalts the twelve Śaiva abodes as a concentrated path of grace: wholehearted reverence to Śiva’s principal seats is presented as spiritually sufficient, because devotion to Pati (Śiva) is the direct means to purification and liberation in the Śaiva view.
The “twelve abodes” are traditionally understood as eminent Liṅga/Śiva-sthānas where Saguna worship is performed—darśana, arcana, and pradakṣiṇā—yet the aim is to awaken steadfast bhakti that leads the devotee toward Śiva’s highest reality.
It suggests intentional preparation (gathering offerings/resources) and complete shrine-worship—arcana and circumambulation—ideally accompanied by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” with Śaiva marks like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) where appropriate.