Shloka 2
Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
पुरातनाश्च राजान ऋषयो देवतास्तथा । आराधनञ्च तस्यैव चकुर्देववरस्य हि
purātanāśca rājāna ṛṣayo devatāstathā | ārādhanañca tasyaiva cakurdevavarasya hi
The ancient kings, the sages, and the gods as well performed worship of that very Supreme God—indeed, of the most excellent of the devas, Lord Śiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: General statement of universal worship: ancient kings, sages, and devas all adored Śiva, ‘best of the gods’; not tied to a single jyotirliṅga site.
Significance: Establishes Śiva’s supremacy and universality of his ārādhana—supporting the legitimacy of Śaiva worship across varṇa/āśrama and even among devas.
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It establishes Śiva as the universally worship-worthy Pati (Supreme Lord): even ancient kings, ṛṣis, and devas attain auspiciousness by ārādhana of Him, highlighting bhakti as an authoritative, time-tested path.
By praising collective ārādhana of the “best of devas,” it supports Saguna worship—commonly expressed in the Purāṇa through Liṅga-pūjā and pilgrimage to Jyotirliṅgas—while implying that the one Lord is approached through accessible forms.
The takeaway is consistent Shiva-ārādhana: daily Liṅga worship with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and traditional aids like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supportive disciplines.