Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
बाणासुरस्य शङ्करस्तुतिः तथा युद्धयाचनम् | Bāṇāsura’s Praise of Śiva and Petition for Battle
सनत्कुमार उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा रुद्रमभ्यर्च्य दिव्यैरजंलिकुड्मलैः । प्रणम्य च महादेवं बाणश्च स्वगृहं गतः
sanatkumāra uvāca | tacchrutvā rudramabhyarcya divyairajaṃlikuḍmalaiḥ | praṇamya ca mahādevaṃ bāṇaśca svagṛhaṃ gataḥ
Sanatkumāra sprach: Als Bāṇa dies vernommen hatte, verehrte er Rudra mit göttlichen Knospen der Ajamli-Pflanze; und nachdem er sich vor Mahādeva verneigt hatte, kehrte Bāṇa in sein eigenes Haus zurück.
Sanatkumara
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on bhakti expressed through reverent worship (arcana) and surrender (praṇāma): after receiving instruction, the devotee responds with devotion to Mahādeva and then returns to righteous worldly duties with Shiva’s grace.
The verse portrays Saguna worship—offering sacred blossoms and bowing to Rudra/Mahādeva—which is the devotional mode commonly performed to the Śiva-liṅga in temple or home puja, affirming Shiva’s accessible, grace-bestowing form.
It suggests simple Shiva-puja through floral offerings and heartfelt prostration; as a takeaway, one may perform daily arcana to the Śiva-liṅga while inwardly remembering the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with humility and devotion.