Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 36
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
शिवलिंगं च ब्रह्माणी रत्नं पूजयति ध्रुवम् । पारदं पार्थिवं बाणस्समर्चति परेऽपि वा
śivaliṃgaṃ ca brahmāṇī ratnaṃ pūjayati dhruvam | pāradaṃ pārthivaṃ bāṇassamarcati pare'pi vā
ബ്രഹ്മാണി നിശ്ചയമായി രത്നനിർമ്മിതമായ ശിവലിംഗത്തെ പൂജിക്കുന്നു. അതുപോലെ പാരദനിർമ്മിതവും പാർത്ഥിവം (മണ്ണിൽ നിന്നുള്ള) ലിംഗവും ബാണലിംഗവും ഭക്തിയോടെ സമർച്ചിക്കുന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse enumerates valid liṅga-materials (ratna, pārada, pārthiva, bāṇa) to universalize access to Śiva-worship across contexts and capacities.
Significance: Affirms that devotion expressed through properly established liṅga-worship—whether precious, alchemical, earthen, or naturally formed—yields Śiva’s grace (anugraha) irrespective of material opulence.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva’s grace is approached through devoted liṅga-pūjā in many valid forms—precious, earthen, mercury, or naturally obtained—emphasizing bhakti over mere material distinction, aligning with Śaiva Siddhānta’s focus on Śiva’s anugraha (grace) as the liberating power.
The verse affirms the liṅga as a sanctified saguna focus for worship: different liṅga materials are acceptable supports for concentration, offering, and mantra-japa, through which the devotee relates to Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who responds to sincere devotion.
Perform liṅga-pūjā with a reverent, consecrated liṅga (ratna/parthiva/bāṇa etc.), accompanied by pañcākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and standard offerings (water, flowers, bilva), keeping inner purity and steadiness of mind as the core observance.