Shloka 12
Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
एते च मुनयस्सर्वे शिवपूजाकरा मताः । तथा पराशरो व्यासश्शिवपूजारतस्सदा
ete ca munayassarve śivapūjākarā matāḥ | tathā parāśaro vyāsaśśivapūjāratassadā
“All these sages are regarded as devoted performers of Śiva’s worship; likewise Parāśara and Vyāsa are ever absorbed in the adoration of Lord Śiva.”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: By including Parāśara and Vyāsa (paradigmatic transmitters of śāstra), the verse frames Śiva-pūjā as both devotional and scripturally grounded; the implied benefit is śāstra-siddhi and, ultimately, pāśa-vimocana through Śiva’s grace.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It establishes Śiva-pūjā as the hallmark of realized sages, implying that steady devotion to Pati (Śiva) purifies the paśu (bound soul) and becomes a direct means toward grace and liberation.
In the Kotirudra context—centered on tīrthas and Jyotirliṅgas—“Śiva-pūjā” primarily points to Saguna worship through the Liṅga, where the devotee approaches the formless Lord via a sacred form that bestows śiva-anugraha (Śiva’s grace).
The takeaway is constancy in Śiva-pūjā: daily Liṅga-abhiṣeka, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and disciplined purity practices such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa where appropriate.