Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 71
पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः
Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva
सुखसंतानवृद्ध्यर्थं धारापूजनमुत्तमम् । नानाद्रव्यैः शुभैर्दिव्यैः प्रीत्या सद्भस्मधारिणा
sukhasaṃtānavṛddhyarthaṃ dhārāpūjanamuttamam | nānādravyaiḥ śubhairdivyaiḥ prītyā sadbhasmadhāriṇā
സുഖവും സന്താനവർദ്ധനവും ലഭിക്കുവാൻ ധാരാപൂജയാണ് ഉത്തമമെന്ന് പറയുന്നു—സദ്ഭസ്മധാരിയായ ഭക്തൻ പ്രീതിയോടെ, പലവിധ ശുഭവും ദിവ്യവുമായ ദ്രവ്യങ്ങളാൽ ചെയ്യുന്നത്.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: Dhārā-pūjā (continuous abhiṣeka) is presented as a prayoga for sukha and saṃtāna-vṛddhi; in Siddhānta terms it is a karma-bhakti upāya that purifies pāśa (mala/karma) and invites Śiva’s anugraha to stabilize gṛhastha-dharma and continuity of lineage.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that steady, loving worship—especially dhārā (continuous libation/abhisheka) offered to Shiva—supports worldly well-being like happiness and progeny, while also cultivating devotion (bhakti) and purity through Shaiva disciplines such as wearing bhasma.
Dhārā-pūjā is a classic Saguna practice centered on the Shiva-linga, where a continuous flow of sanctified offerings expresses sustained remembrance and surrender; the verse frames it as an excellent means to receive Shiva’s grace for household aims.
Perform dhārā-pūjā/abhisheka with auspicious substances and sincere love, while observing Shaiva marks like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra); internally, sustain a continuous “stream” of remembrance—ideally with Shiva mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).