Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 62
गणेशाभिषेक-वरदान-विधानम् | Gaṇeśa’s Consecration, Boons, and Prescribed Worship
तथेत्युक्त्वा तु तैस्सर्वैर्गणैश्शंभुप्रियैर्मुने । पूजितो हि गणाधीशो विधिना परमेण सः
tathetyuktvā tu taissarvairgaṇaiśśaṃbhupriyairmune | pūjito hi gaṇādhīśo vidhinā parameṇa saḥ
Ô sage, tous ayant dit : « Qu’il en soit ainsi », ces gaṇas chers à Śambhu rendirent un culte au Seigneur des gaṇas, Gaṇādhiśa, selon le rite prescrit le plus élevé.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: Models proper response to Śiva’s ordinance: communal assent (‘tathā’) followed by vidhi-based worship—suggesting that obedience and right ritual form support receptivity to grace.
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights that devotion aligned with proper sacred method (vidhi) sanctifies worship: Śiva’s own gaṇas honor Gaṇādhiśa, showing that reverence within Śiva’s divine order supports grace and auspiciousness on the path to liberation.
In a Shaiva Siddhanta frame, saguna worship is performed through ordained rites and through honoring Śiva’s manifestations and retinue; worship of Gaṇādhiśa functions as an अंग (supporting limb) of Śiva-bhakti, removing obstacles to Linga-pūjā and deeper meditation on Pati (Śiva).
The takeaway is to perform pūjā “by the highest rite” (parama-vidhi): begin worship with Gaṇeśa/Gaṇanātha for obstacle-removal, then proceed with disciplined Shiva-upāsanā—mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), purity, and orderly offerings.