Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 41
सेवातत्त्वप्रश्नः — The Question of Whom to Serve (Sevā) for the Removal of Suffering
ब्रह्मोवाच । श्रूयतामृषयः सर्वे सामराः प्रेमतत्पराः । शिवपूजाविधिं प्रीत्या कथये भुक्तिमुक्तिदम्
brahmovāca | śrūyatāmṛṣayaḥ sarve sāmarāḥ prematatparāḥ | śivapūjāvidhiṃ prītyā kathaye bhuktimuktidam
Brahmā berkata: “Dengarlah, wahai para resi sekalian—bersama para dewa—yang teguh dalam kasih dan bhakti. Dengan sukacita aku akan menghuraikan tata cara pemujaan Śiva, yang menganugerahkan kenikmatan duniawi dan juga mokṣa.”
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific (sthāla) passage; it functions as a doctrinal preface announcing Śiva-pūjā as the means to both bhukti and mukti.
Significance: Frames Śiva-worship as the integrated path yielding worldly well-being (bhukti) and liberation (mukti), a common Purāṇic promise that motivates vrata, dāna, and daily pūjā.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It frames Śiva-pūjā as a complete path that can grant both bhukti (rightful worldly well-being) and mukti (liberation), emphasizing devotion (prema) as the proper inner attitude for worship.
By announcing the “Śiva-pūjā-vidhi,” Brahmā signals an upcoming practical regimen of worship typically directed to Saguna Śiva—commonly through the Śiva-liṅga—where form-based devotion becomes a doorway to realizing Śiva’s highest grace.
The verse specifically points to learning and performing Śiva-pūjā-vidhi with loving focus; it implies disciplined ritual worship supported by devotional contemplation, which in later context is commonly aligned with mantra-japa and purity observances.