Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 74
पूजाविधिः
Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances
गुरूपदिष्टमार्गेण कृत्वा मन्त्रमुदीरयेत् । यथासंख्यं यथाज्ञानं कुर्यान्मंत्रविधिन्नरः
gurūpadiṣṭamārgeṇa kṛtvā mantramudīrayet | yathāsaṃkhyaṃ yathājñānaṃ kuryānmaṃtravidhinnaraḥ
ഗുരു ഉപദേശിച്ച മാർഗ്ഗത്തിൽ വിധിപൂർവ്വം കർമ്മം ചെയ്ത് മന്ത്രം ഉച്ചരിക്കണം. മന്ത്രവിധി നിർദ്ദേശിക്കുന്നപോലെ യഥാസംഖ്യയും യഥാജ്ഞാനവും അനുഷ്ഠിക്കണം.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-method to the sages of Naimisharanya within the Rudrasaṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva-mantra practice becomes truly effective when done through the Guru-taught method, with disciplined japa and correct observance of vidhi—aligning the devotee (paśu) to Shiva’s grace (Pati) for purification and liberation.
Mantra-japa is a core limb of Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-pūjā): the verse emphasizes that recitation should be integrated with the proper ritual sequence and guidance, not treated as casual speech.
Perform the prescribed preparatory acts, then do mantra-japa with a fixed count (saṃkhyā) as taught by the Guru, maintaining fidelity to mantra-vidhi; it supports steady meditation on Shiva and disciplined daily practice.