Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43
पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः
Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva
आदित्यसंख्यया तत्र ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्ततः । लक्षपूजा तथा जाता साङ्गश्च मन्त्रपूर्वकम्
ādityasaṃkhyayā tatra brāhmaṇānbhojayettataḥ | lakṣapūjā tathā jātā sāṅgaśca mantrapūrvakam
Then, in that sacred observance, one should feed Brāhmaṇas in a number equal to the Ādityas. Thus the ‘lakṣa‑worship’—a hundred thousand acts of adoration—is duly accomplished, complete in all its prescribed limbs and performed with mantras as enjoined.
Suta Goswami (narrating the ritual injunctions to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Lakṣa-pūjā is completed not only by repetition but by dharmic completion (aṅgas): feeding brāhmaṇas (here, twelve like the Ādityas) integrates dāna and hospitality, amplifying merit and purifying intent.
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that devotion becomes spiritually effective when worship is both inward (mantra) and outward (service), especially honoring sacred knowledge through feeding Brāhmaṇas; such sāṅga, mantra-guided worship supports purification and Shiva’s grace.
Lakṣa-pūjā implies repeated, disciplined acts of saguna worship—typically centered on Shiva’s icon/Śivaliṅga—performed with prescribed mantra-vidhi, showing that structured ritual repetition is a valid Shaiva path to divine favor.
A mantra-pūrvaka lakṣa-pūjā (large-count worship with mantras) along with brāhmaṇa-bhojana (feeding Brāhmaṇas), ensuring the rite is sāṅga—complete with its required steps; it pairs japa/puja discipline with charitable service.