Shloka 34
दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas
यस्य मंत्रस्य यद्द्रव्यं तेन पूजां समाचरेत् । अमंत्रकं न कर्तव्यं पूजनं तु हरस्य च
yasya maṃtrasya yaddravyaṃ tena pūjāṃ samācaret | amaṃtrakaṃ na kartavyaṃ pūjanaṃ tu harasya ca
With whatever offering is prescribed for a given mantra, one should perform the worship using that very substance. The worship of Hara (Lord Śiva) should never be done without mantra.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadashiva
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is not merely external offering; mantra is the conscious link (bhāva and invocation) that makes the act a true act of devotion and alignment with Śiva.
In Liṅga/Saguṇa worship, the mantra functions as formal invocation and consecration of the offering; the verse emphasizes that the Liṅga-pūjā should be performed in a mantra-guided manner rather than as a silent, purely material act.
Perform Śiva-pūjā with the appropriate prescribed dravya while reciting Śiva-mantras (commonly the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), ensuring the worship is not amantraka (mantra-less).