Shloka 45
शिवपुराण-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Śiva Purāṇa) / Śivapurāṇa Māhātmya
संहितां तां पठन्भक्त्या यः श्राद्धे भोजयेद्द्विजान् । तस्य ये पितरः सर्वे यांति शंभोः परं पदम्
saṃhitāṃ tāṃ paṭhanbhaktyā yaḥ śrāddhe bhojayeddvijān | tasya ye pitaraḥ sarve yāṃti śaṃbhoḥ paraṃ padam
Siapa yang dengan bhakti melantunkan Saṃhitā itu lalu pada upacara śrāddha menjamu para dvija (brāhmaṇa), maka semua leluhurnya mencapai kediaman tertinggi Śambhu (Śiva).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga legend; it links śrāddha (pitṛ-rite) with Śiva’s ‘parama pada’, asserting that bhakti-infused śiva-śāstra recitation can elevate ancestors.
Significance: Transforms ancestral rites into Śaiva soteriology: pitṛs are led beyond pitṛloka toward Śiva’s supreme state through the descendant’s devotion and gift of food.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that devotional recitation of Śiva’s scripture, joined with righteous ancestral rites (śrāddha), becomes a liberating merit that uplifts one’s pitṛs toward Śiva’s supreme state—showing Śiva as the ultimate refuge and giver of mokṣa.
The verse highlights Saguna devotion—serving Śiva through reverent scripture-recitation and dharmic offerings. Such bhakti-oriented acts are treated as worship of Śambhu, akin in spirit to Liṅga-upāsanā, because they are performed with Śiva as the central intention.
Perform śrāddha with purity, recite the Saṃhitā (or Śiva-stotra/pañcākṣara with devotion), and feed qualified brāhmaṇas as an offering dedicated to Śiva for the benefit of the ancestors.