Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36
पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः
Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva
विद्यते कुसुमं तन्न यन्नैव शिववल्लभम् । चंपकं केतकं हित्वा त्वन्यत्सर्वं समर्पयेत्
vidyate kusumaṃ tanna yannaiva śivavallabham | caṃpakaṃ ketakaṃ hitvā tvanyatsarvaṃ samarpayet
Il n’est point de fleur qui ne soit chère au Seigneur Śiva. Toutefois, en laissant de côté la campaka et la ketaka, on peut offrir toutes les autres fleurs dans le culte.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: This is a general ritual injunction (vidhi) about acceptable floral offerings to Śiva; it is not tied to a single Jyotirliṅga narrative. The exclusion of ketaka (screw-pine) is traditionally linked in Śaiva lore to the Liṅgodbhava episode where ketakī is said to have borne false witness, hence its avoidance in liṅga-pūjā; campaka is also excluded here by Purāṇic/ritual convention in this textual stream.
Significance: Establishes correct pūjā-niyama: devotion is primary, but śāstric propriety (what to avoid) protects the worshipper from doṣa and supports steady bhakti.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse teaches that Śiva is easily pleased by sincere devotion and accepts nearly all floral offerings, yet it also emphasizes discipline in worship—devotion (bhakti) should be guided by scriptural propriety (vidhi) to keep the mind pure and focused on Pati (Śiva).
In Saguna worship, the Śiva-liṅga is honored through upacāras like flowers. This verse affirms that Śiva’s grace is vast, but certain items are traditionally excluded; following such guidelines strengthens reverence, steadiness, and the sanctity of liṅga-pūjā.
Offer acceptable flowers with a calm, devotional mind while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and maintain purity in upacāras by avoiding traditionally prohibited offerings such as campaka and ketaka.