Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
उपमन्युर्महाभक्तश्शिवस्य परमात्मनः । याज्ञवल्क्यो महाशैवो जैमिनिर्गर्ग एव च
upamanyurmahābhaktaśśivasya paramātmanaḥ | yājñavalkyo mahāśaivo jaiminirgarga eva ca
ഉപമന്യു പരമാത്മാവായ ശിവന്റെ മഹാഭക്തൻ. യാജ്ഞവൽക്ക്യൻ മഹാശൈവൻ; ജൈമിനിയും ഗർഗനും അതുപോലെ തന്നേ.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
It honors exemplary ṛṣis as mahābhaktas and mahāśaivas, teaching that steadfast devotion to Śiva—recognized as Paramātmā—purifies the soul and supports liberation through Śiva’s grace.
By naming renowned Śaiva devotees, the verse reinforces the Purāṇic path of Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—commonly expressed through Liṅga worship—where the devotee approaches the Supreme through a sacred form and disciplined reverence.
The implied takeaway is to follow the conduct of great Śaivas: daily Śiva-pūjā (often to the Liṅga), japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and a life of devotion and scriptural study.