Shloka 39
Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
तद्वंशे ये समुत्पन्ना राजानः सानुगा मुने । ते सर्वे पार्थिवं लिंगं शिवस्य समपूजयन्
tadvaṃśe ye samutpannā rājānaḥ sānugā mune | te sarve pārthivaṃ liṃgaṃ śivasya samapūjayan
Wahai muni, semua raja yang lahir dalam keturunan itu—bersama para pengiring mereka—telah memuja Dewa Śiva dengan menghormati Liṅga Pārthiva (liṅga tanah) menurut tata yang benar.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a specific jyotirliṅga episode; it generalizes the practice of Pārthiva-liṅga worship across a royal lineage, presenting it as a dynastic dharma.
Significance: Models ‘rāja-śaivatva’: even worldly rulers can pursue Śiva through accessible worship (clay liṅga), implying universality of the path.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It affirms that even rulers attain spiritual merit through humble, correct devotion—worshipping Śiva via the liṅga—showing that bhakti and proper reverence, not status, are central to Śaiva dharma.
The earthen liṅga is a saguna (worship-support) form through which devotees approach the transcendent Śiva; honoring the liṅga is honoring Śiva Himself as Pati, accessible through ritual and devotion.
Parthiva-liṅga pūjā: fashioning an earthen liṅga and worshipping it with purity, offerings, and mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), as a simple yet potent Śiva-sādhana.