Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 61
लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः
Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi
पाठयमानेन मंत्रेण तथा वाङ्मयकेन च । रुद्रेण नीलरुद्रेण सुशुक्लेन सुभेन च
pāṭhayamānena maṃtreṇa tathā vāṅmayakena ca | rudreṇa nīlarudreṇa suśuklena subhena ca
മന്ത്രപാഠവും പവിത്രമായ വാങ്മയോച്ചാരണവും മൂലം—രുദ്രൻ, നീലരുദ്രൻ, അതിശുദ്ധ ശ്വേതവും ശുഭസ്വരൂപവും മൂലവും—ഈ കർമ്മം/പൂജ പാവനമാകുന്നു.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha
Sthala Purana: The verse invokes Rudra in differentiated epithets (Rudra, Nīlarudra, ‘suśukla’, ‘subha’), reflecting multi-aspect divinity rather than a specific Jyotirliṅga legend.
Significance: Contemplation of Rudra’s manifold forms supports bhakti and dhyāna; in Siddhānta, recognizing the Lord’s gracious accessibility through names/forms aids the paśu’s orientation toward Pati.
Type: rudram
FAQs
It emphasizes that Śiva’s grace is accessed through disciplined mantra-recitation and sanctified speech—invoking Rudra’s auspicious forms (like Nīlarudra) to purify and consecrate the practitioner’s inner state.
The verse points to Saguna worship: specific named forms of Rudra (e.g., Nīlarudra, the pure/white and auspicious aspect) are invoked through mantra and vāṅmaya, which in Śaiva practice accompanies Liṅga-pūjā, abhiṣeka, and stotra-recitation.
Regular mantra-japa and reverent recitation (pāṭha) of sacred formulas—performed with purity of speech—especially Rudra-oriented mantras used alongside daily Śiva worship and meditative remembrance of Rudra’s auspicious form.