Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57
पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels
हैमे च राजते ताम्रे पात्रे वा मृन्मये शुभे । पद्मकैश्शोभितैः पुष्पैर्बीजैर्दध्यक्षतादिभिः
haime ca rājate tāmre pātre vā mṛnmaye śubhe | padmakaiśśobhitaiḥ puṣpairbījairdadhyakṣatādibhiḥ
Dans un récipient de bon augure—qu’il soit d’or, d’argent, de cuivre ou de terre sacrée—qu’on fasse l’offrande avec des fleurs ornées de lotus, ainsi qu’avec des graines, du caillé (dadhi), du riz intact (akṣata) et d’autres substances rituelles pures.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teachings to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadyojāta
Significance: Establishes śuddhi (ritual purity) and saṃskāra of upacāras for Śiva-pūjā; supports eligibility for liṅga-arcana and abhiṣeka.
Shakti Form: Gaurī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that devotion must be expressed through śuddhi (purity) and saṃskāra (reverent order): the vessel and offerings should be clean, auspicious, and sattvic, supporting a focused mind while honoring Shiva as Pati, the supreme Lord who accepts sincere bhakti.
These are upacāras (ritual services) offered to Saguna Shiva in the form of the Liṅga. The verse specifies proper materials—vessels and offerings—by which the devotee approaches the manifest form, while remembering the inner, transcendent Shiva beyond form.
Perform Liṅga-pūjā using a clean metal or earthen vessel and offer lotus-like flowers, akṣata (unbroken rice), dadhi (curd), and grains, ideally while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady attention.