Shloka 45
Pārthiva-Śiva-liṅga Saṃkhyā-vidhāna
Enumeration and Procedure of Earthen Liṅga Worship
इत्थं कृत्वार्चनं शंभोर्नैवेद्यांतं विधानतः । पूजयेदष्टमूर्तीश्च तत्रैव त्रिजगन्मयीः
itthaṃ kṛtvārcanaṃ śaṃbhornaivedyāṃtaṃ vidhānataḥ | pūjayedaṣṭamūrtīśca tatraiva trijaganmayīḥ
Thus, having duly performed the worship of Śambhu in the prescribed manner up to the offering of naivedya, one should worship—there itself—the Aṣṭamūrti, the Eight Manifest Forms of Śiva, who pervade and embody the three worlds.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: In the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā’s Kāśī-centered frame, Śambhu as Viśveśvara is worshipped with full vidhi culminating in naivedya; the Aṣṭamūrti-pūjā expresses Śiva’s pervasion of the three worlds, a hallmark of Kāśī’s ‘Avimukta’ theology.
Significance: Completing arcana up to naivedya and then honoring Aṣṭamūrti integrates personal worship with cosmic Śiva-pervasion; supports siddhi of worship and steadiness of bhakti (śiva-sāyujya/śiva-prasāda as ultimate).
Type: stotra
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that correct, rule-based worship (vidhānataḥ) culminates not merely in offering food (naivedya) but in recognizing Śiva’s all-pervading presence through the Aṣṭamūrti—seeing the Lord as immanent in the entire threefold cosmos while remaining the supreme Pati.
After completing Linga-centered worship up to naivedya, the devotee expands the same act of devotion to Saguna manifestations—Śiva’s Aṣṭamūrti—affirming that the Linga is the focal support (ādhāra) for realizing Śiva’s presence throughout the three worlds.
Perform Shiva arcana in sequence up to naivedya, then continue with contemplative worship of Śiva’s eight cosmic forms (Aṣṭamūrti), mentally offering reverence to the Lord as present in all realms; this pairs naturally with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during or after the offerings.