Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 1
लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः
Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi
ऋषय ऊचुः । सूतसूत महाभाग व्यासशिष्य नमोस्तु ते । श्राविताद्याद्भुता शैवकथा परमपावनी
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | sūtasūta mahābhāga vyāsaśiṣya namostu te | śrāvitādyādbhutā śaivakathā paramapāvanī
Para resi berkata: “Wahai Sūta, insan mulia, murid Vyāsa—sembah sujud kami kepadamu. Pada hari ini engkau telah memperdengarkan kepada kami kisah suci Śaiva yang menakjubkan, yang amat menyucikan.”
The sages (ṛṣis) of Naimiṣāraṇya
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a sthala episode; it is the Naimiṣāraṇya frame where sages acknowledge the purifying power of Śaiva kathā transmitted by Sūta (Vyāsa’s disciple).
Significance: Affirms śravaṇa (hearing) of Śiva-kathā as paramapāvanī (supremely purifying), a key purāṇic upāya for bound souls (paśu).
FAQs
It praises śravaṇa (devout hearing) of Śaiva-kathā as “parama-pāvanī,” teaching that attentive listening to Lord Śiva’s sacred narrative purifies the mind and strengthens devotion, preparing the seeker for grace and liberation.
By honoring Śaiva-kathā as wondrous and purifying, the verse frames devotion to Saguna Śiva—often approached through Linga worship—as supported by scriptural hearing and remembrance, which deepen reverence and right understanding of Śiva’s presence.
The implied practice is regular śravaṇa (listening) and smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śiva’s teachings in satsanga; as a takeaway, one may pair such hearing with simple japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to internalize the purifying effect.