Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 74
लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः
Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi
अज्ञानाद्यदि वा ज्ञानाज्जपपूजादिकं मया । कृतं तदस्तु सफलं कृपया तव शंकर
ajñānādyadi vā jñānājjapapūjādikaṃ mayā | kṛtaṃ tadastu saphalaṃ kṛpayā tava śaṃkara
Ô Śaṅkara, que j’aie accompli le japa, la pūjā et d’autres actes d’adoration par ignorance ou avec la vraie connaissance, que tout ce que j’ai fait porte du fruit par Ta compassion.
A devotee (as narrated by Sūta Gosvāmin within the Rudrasaṃhitā’s Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Articulates the Siddhānta emphasis that ritual efficacy ultimately depends on Śiva’s grace: even imperfect worship (done in ajñāna) becomes fruitful through anugraha.
Mantra: अज्ञानाद्यदि वा ज्ञानाज्जपपूजादिकं मया । कृतं तदस्तु सफलं कृपया तव शंकर
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that the final efficacy of worship depends on Śiva’s anugraha (grace): even practices done with partial understanding become spiritually fruitful when offered with surrender to Pati, the Lord.
Linga-pūjā and other saguna forms of worship are validated here: the devotee asks Śiva to accept the offering regardless of imperfections, emphasizing that sincere devotion and divine compassion complete the ritual.
Regular japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and pūjā are implied, along with the inner attitude of dedicating the act to Śiva and praying that His grace make the practice successful.