Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44
पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः
Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva
शतमष्टोत्तरं तत्र मंत्रे विधिरुदाहृतः । तिलानां च पलं लक्षं महापातकनाशनम्
śatamaṣṭottaraṃ tatra maṃtre vidhirudāhṛtaḥ | tilānāṃ ca palaṃ lakṣaṃ mahāpātakanāśanam
यहाँ मंत्र-जप की विधि एक सौ आठ बार कही गई है। और तिल का दान—एक लाख पल—महापातकों का नाश करने वाला होता है।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Vaidyanātha
Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha
Sthala Purana: The verse’s theme is pāpa-nāśana through prescribed counts and sesame offering; this resonates with Vaidyanātha’s healing/purifying aspect (vaidya = healer), though the verse itself is not a site-specific māhātmya.
Significance: Frames Śiva worship as therapeutic purification: fixed japa count (108) and large-scale tila offering are said to destroy mahāpātakas, aligning with the idea of Śiva as remover of deep karmic afflictions.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It establishes a Shaiva discipline where mantra-japa (108 recitations) and a sacred offering (tila) function as purificatory acts, orienting the devotee toward Shiva’s grace that burns karmic impurities, including grave sins.
The verse supports Saguna Shiva worship through prescribed ritual observances—counted japa and tangible offerings—commonly performed before the Linga, where devotion is expressed in form while seeking inner purification.
Perform 108 mantra recitations as the stated vidhi, and accompany the worship with a sesame offering (tila-dāna/homa-style offering as context allows) as a traditional means of atonement and cleansing.