Shloka 55
ततः साक्षतपुष्पाणि गृहीत्वांजलिना मुदा । प्रार्थयेच्छंकरं भक्त्या मंत्रैरेभिः सुभक्तितः
tataḥ sākṣatapuṣpāṇi gṛhītvāṃjalinā mudā | prārthayecchaṃkaraṃ bhaktyā maṃtrairebhiḥ subhaktitaḥ
Then, joyfully taking flowers together with unbroken rice in cupped hands, one should pray to Śaṅkara with devotion, using these mantras, with sincere and excellent bhakti.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva-worship procedure to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva responds foremost to bhakti: the offering (flowers and akṣata) becomes spiritually potent when made with joyful sincerity and mantra-guided prayer to Śaṅkara, the gracious Pati who bestows auspiciousness and liberation.
The verse describes a concrete, Saguna mode of worship—offering sacred items with añjali and mantras—typical of Liṅga-pūjā. Through such embodied devotion, the devotee approaches the transcendent Lord who can also be realized as Nirguṇa.
Hold flowers with akṣata in añjali (cupped hands), maintain a devotional mind, and recite the prescribed mantras while praying to Shiva—emphasizing disciplined puja action joined with inner bhakti.