सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
योऽर्चयेच्छिवलिंगं वै नित्यं भक्तिपरायणः । तस्य वै सफला सिद्धिर्न स पापैः प्रयुज्यते
yo'rcayecchivaliṃgaṃ vai nityaṃ bhaktiparāyaṇaḥ | tasya vai saphalā siddhirna sa pāpaiḥ prayujyate
Quiconque vénère chaque jour le Śiva-liṅga avec une dévotion d’un seul élan—son accomplissement devient réellement fécond, et il n’est ni lié ni tourmenté par les péchés.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the teaching of Rudra Saṃhitā to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Affirms nitya-liṅga-arcana as a direct means to pāpa-kṣaya and siddhi; in Siddhānta terms, regular worship purifies karma and prepares the paśu for Śiva’s liberating grace.
Type: panchakshara
Role: liberating
Offering: dhupa
It teaches that steadfast daily liṅga-pūjā performed with sincere bhakti makes one’s spiritual progress effective and loosens the binding force of pāpa, moving the soul (paśu) toward Śiva (Pati) by grace.
The liṅga is the accessible saguna focus through which devotion, purity, and remembrance are stabilized; the verse states that such consistent worship yields siddhi and protects the devotee from sinful bondage.
Nitya Śiva-liṅga arcana—daily offering with devotion (e.g., water, bilva leaves, mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as a steady sādhana that purifies karma.