Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10

पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः

Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva

Devanagari script

लिंगं शिवं तथा पुष्पमखण्डं तंदुलं तथा । चर्चितं चंदनेनैव जलधारां तथा पुनः

Transliteration

liṃgaṃ śivaṃ tathā puṣpamakhaṇḍaṃ taṃdulaṃ tathā | carcitaṃ caṃdanenaiva jaladhārāṃ tathā punaḥ

Translation

Qu’on adore Śiva sous la forme du Liṅga : en offrant des fleurs intactes et des grains de riz entiers ; en l’oignant de pâte de santal ; et, encore et encore, en accomplissant la jaladhārā, l’écoulement continu de l’eau sur lui.

Word by Word

• liṅgam: liṅga (emblem)
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्य-रूपेण (as object)

• tathā: also; likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—समुच्चय/अनुक्रमसूचक (also/likewise)

• puṣpam: flower
• puṣpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• akhaṇḍam: unbroken; whole
• akhaṇḍam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-khaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying puṣpam)

• taṇḍulam: rice grain
• taṇḍulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taṇḍula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/समुच्चयार्थक

• carcitam: smeared; anointed
• carcitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: carcita (कृदन्त; √carc/चर्च् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (anointed/smeared)

• candana: sandalwood (paste)
• candana: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: candana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• eva: indeed; only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/निश्चयार्थक (indeed/only)

• jaladhārām: stream of water
• jaladhārām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala-dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: जलस्य धारा), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• punaḥ: again; further
• punaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक (again/further)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā teaching on Śiva-pūjā to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General liṅga-pūjā upacāras (flowers, rice, candana, jaladhārā) applicable to any Śiva-sthāna; not tied to a single jyotirliṅga narrative.

Significance: Teaches core, accessible upacāras for liṅga worship—especially jaladhārā (continuous abhiṣeka), a hallmark of living temple practice across Śaiva kṣetras.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Linga

FAQs

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

It teaches a simple, sattvic mode of approaching Pati (Śiva) through reverent service—offering purity (intact flowers and grains), devotion (anointing), and steady remembrance (continuous jaladhārā), which supports inner purification and Śiva-anugraha (grace).

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

The verse specifically prescribes Saguna worship of Śiva as the Liṅga, where the devotee uses tangible offerings and abhiṣeka to focus the mind, honoring the Liṅga as the sacred, accessible embodiment of Śiva for devotion and meditation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Liṅga-pūjā with abhiṣeka: offer unbroken flowers and rice, apply sandal paste, and pour a steady stream of water (jaladhārā) while maintaining concentrated devotion—optionally accompanied by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”