Shloka 18
Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
हिरण्यकशिपुर्देत्यस्सानुजत्ससुतो मुने । शिवपूजाकरो नित्यं विरोचनबली तथा
hiraṇyakaśipurdetyassānujatsasuto mune | śivapūjākaro nityaṃ virocanabalī tathā
O sage, the Daitya Hiranyakashipu—together with his younger brother and his son—was ever engaged in the worship of Lord Śiva; likewise were Virochana and Bali devoted to Śiva’s daily adoration.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse functions as a bhakti-catalogue showing Śiva’s universal lordship extending even to Daityas, implying Śiva’s anugraha is not restricted by birth or varṇa.
Significance: Encourages non-sectarian Śiva-bhakti: even those classed as ‘asura’ can become recipients of Śiva’s grace through nitya-pūjā.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It emphasizes that Shiva’s grace is approached through steady devotion (nitya-puja), showing that bhakti to Pati (Lord Shiva) can arise even among powerful beings like the Daityas, and that worship itself is a purifying discipline leading toward liberation when aligned with dharma.
The verse highlights regular, embodied worship—typical of Saguna Shiva devotion—commonly expressed through Linga-puja with offerings, mantra, and reverence, which Kotirudra narratives often connect to sacred tirthas and Jyotirlinga-centered practice.
The key takeaway is nitya Shiva-puja: daily remembrance with the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and traditional Shaiva aids such as Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha to stabilize devotion and inner focus.