Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 67
पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः
Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva
विधानपूर्वकं पूजां कृत्वा भक्त्या शिवस्य वै । पश्चाच्च जलधारा हि कर्तव्या भक्तितत्परैः
vidhānapūrvakaṃ pūjāṃ kṛtvā bhaktyā śivasya vai | paścācca jaladhārā hi kartavyā bhaktitatparaiḥ
Après avoir accompli avec dévotion le culte du Seigneur Śiva selon les rites prescrits, les dévots, fermes dans la bhakti, doivent ensuite offrir assurément une jaladhārā, un filet d’eau continu, en service plein de révérence.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages in the Rudra Saṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: General procedural instruction: first perform vidhi-based pūjā, then jaladhārā (continuous abhiṣeka). This mirrors Āgamic sequencing (upacāra-pūjā culminating in snāna/abhiṣeka).
Significance: Teaches that bhakti is to be embodied through vidhi (right method) and sevā (continuous offering), integrating devotion with disciplined ritual.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that true Śiva-upāsanā unites right method (vidhi) with heartfelt devotion (bhakti), and that jaladhārā/abhiṣeka offered after pūjā is a sustained act of surrender and purification directed to Saguna Śiva.
The instruction to offer a continuous stream of water points directly to liṅga-abhiṣeka, a central Saguna form of worship in the Shiva Purana where the devotee serves Śiva through tangible offerings while contemplating His transcendent nature.
Perform Śiva-pūjā as per injunctions, then offer jaladhārā (steady water abhiṣeka) with focused bhakti—ideally while remembering Śiva through japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).