Shloka 43
अग्नियज्ञ-देवयज्ञ-ब्रह्मयज्ञ-गुरुपूजा-क्रमनिरूपणम् / Ordering and Definitions of Agniyajña, Devayajña, Brahmayajña, and Guru-Pūjā
दरिद्र स्तपसा देवान्यजेदाढ्यो धनेन हि । पुनश्चैवंविधं धर्मं कुरुते श्रद्धया सह
daridra stapasā devānyajedāḍhyo dhanena hi | punaścaivaṃvidhaṃ dharmaṃ kurute śraddhayā saha
ദരിദ്രൻ തപസ്സിലൂടെ ദേവന്മാരെ ആരാധിക്കട്ടെ, ധനവാൻ ധനത്തിലൂടെ ആരാധിക്കട്ടെ; പിന്നെയും ഇത്തരത്തിലുള്ള ധർമ്മം ശ്രദ്ധയോടെ ആചരിക്കണം।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it articulates an adhikāra-based ethic: the same worship is accessible through tapas (for the poor) or wealth (for the rich), but must be animated by śraddhā.
Significance: Affirms spiritual equity: Śiva accepts offerings scaled to capacity; śraddhā is the decisive inner offering, aligning with Siddhānta’s emphasis on purified intention and grace.
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that spiritual progress is not blocked by poverty or enabled only by riches—each person should worship according to their means, but always with śraddhā, which is the inner power that makes worship fruitful.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is accessible to all: one may offer simple water, bilva leaves, and mantra with tapas, while another may support temples and festivals with wealth—both are valid when directed to Saguna Shiva with devotion and discipline.
For those with little wealth: tapas such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), fasting, and simple Linga-abhisheka; for the wealthy: dana and funding worship—both to be done with steady faith.