Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8
केवलामुष्मिकविधिः — The Rite for Exclusive Otherworldly Attainment
Liṅga-Abhiṣeka and Padma-Pūjā Protocol
श्वेतैर्विकसितैः पद्मैः संपूज्य प्रणिपत्य च । तत्र पद्मासनं रम्यं कृत्वा लक्षणसंयुतम्
śvetairvikasitaiḥ padmaiḥ saṃpūjya praṇipatya ca | tatra padmāsanaṃ ramyaṃ kṛtvā lakṣaṇasaṃyutam
Nachdem man mit voll erblühten weißen Lotosblüten verehrt und sich ehrfürchtig verneigt hat, soll man dort einen schönen Lotossitz bereiten, versehen mit den rechten rituellen Merkmalen—würdig der Verehrung des Herrn Śiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: General pūjā-vidhi: offering white blossomed lotuses, prostration, and preparing a padmāsana as an auspicious support for liṅga/Śiva worship; not a site-specific legend.
Significance: Emphasizes purity (śveta-padma), humility (praṇipāta), and correct ritual arrangement (āsana-lakṣaṇa) as prerequisites for receiving Śiva’s grace.
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-worship begins with purity and humility—offering sattvic symbols like white lotuses and surrendering through prostration—then establishing an auspicious seat that reflects inner steadiness for communion with Pati (Lord Śiva).
The verse emphasizes proper upacāra (ritual service): offerings and respectful bowing, followed by preparing an appropriate āsana/altar setting. This supports Saguna worship of Śiva, commonly centered on the Śiva-liṅga, where right arrangement (lakṣaṇa) is part of disciplined devotion.
Prepare a clean, auspicious worship-seat (padmāsana), offer white lotuses, and begin with pranāma (prostration). As a meditative takeaway, establish a steady seat and then worship with mantra-japa—traditionally the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”