Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
एवं विधानि लिंगानि दत्तानि विश्वकर्मणा । ते पूजयंति सर्वे वै देवा ऋषिगणा स्तथा
evaṃ vidhāni liṃgāni dattāni viśvakarmaṇā | te pūjayaṃti sarve vai devā ṛṣigaṇā stathā
Demikianlah, Śiva-liṅga yang dibentuk menurut tata cara yang benar telah dianugerahkan oleh Viśvakarman. Dan semuanya—sesungguhnya—para dewa serta kumpulan para ṛṣi turut memuja liṅga-liṅga itu.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; it frames liṅga-worship as a divinely instituted, architected tradition: Viśvakarman fashions/dispenses prescribed liṅgas, which become stable supports for ongoing worship by devas and ṛṣis.
Significance: Establishes normative authority for liṅga-pratiṣṭhā and pūjā: when the liṅga is ‘vidhāna’-conformant, worship becomes a sustaining (sthiti) dharmic act for cosmic order.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse establishes the liṅga as an authorized, rule-based (vidhi) form for approaching Śiva, showing that even devas and ṛṣis adopt liṅga-pūjā as a direct means of devotion and grace.
By stating that consecrated liṅgas were crafted and then worshipped by exalted beings, it affirms liṅga worship as Saguna-upāsanā: a tangible support through which the devotee reveres the transcendent Pati (Śiva).
It points to vidhi-based liṅga-pūjā—regular worship with offerings (especially abhiṣeka), accompanied by mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” as a steady devotional discipline.