Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

पूजाविधिः

Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances

Devanagari script

दिक्पालान्पूजयेत्तत्र स्थापयित्वा शिवालये । गृहे शिवस्सदा पूज्यो मूलमंत्राभियोगतः

Transliteration

dikpālānpūjayettatra sthāpayitvā śivālaye | gṛhe śivassadā pūjyo mūlamaṃtrābhiyogataḥ

Translation

Après avoir établi, là, dans le sanctuaire de Śiva, les gardiens des directions (dikpāla), qu’on les honore par le culte. Dans sa propre demeure aussi, Śiva doit être adoré en tout temps, en usant comme il se doit du mūla-mantra, le mantra racine śaiva.

Word by Word

• दिक्पालान्: the guardians of the directions
• दिक्पालान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; समासः दिक्पाल = दिशां पालः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• स्थापयित्वा: having स्थापित/established
• स्थापयित्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) + णिच् (स्थापय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having caused to place/establish’

• शिवालये: in the temple of Śiva
• शिवालये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः शिवालय = शिवस्य आलयः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• गृहे: in the house
• गृहे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• पूज्यः: to be worshipped
• पूज्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्-प्रत्यय: यत् (gerundive/future passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘पूजनीयः’

• मूलमन्त्राभियोगतः: according to the application/usage of the root mantra
• मूलमन्त्राभियोगतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मूल + मन्त्र + अभियोग (प्रातिपदिक) + तः (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (तस्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘-तः’ = ‘from/according to’); समासः मूलमन्त्राभियोग = मूलमन्त्रस्य अभियोगः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Rudrasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Connects temple protocol (dikpāla installation) with home worship; underscores continuity of Śaiva order (sthiti) through mantra-centered daily pūjā.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय (mūla-mantra, implied)

Type: panchakshara

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dikpalas

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches that Śiva’s worship is both cosmic and personal: honoring the dikpālas sustains ritual order in the sacred space, while daily home worship with the root mantra anchors the devotee in steady bhakti leading toward Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By placing worship within the Śivālaya and the home, the verse supports saguna upāsanā—worship of Śiva as approachable through the liṅga/arcā—where mantra and proper installation make the presence of Śiva ritually manifest and spiritually effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform regular Śiva-pūjā at home and in the temple, using the mūla-mantra—commonly understood in Śaiva practice as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—with correct application (japa during worship, offerings, and daily remembrance).