Shloka 10
Śiva-Naivedya-Grāhyatā-Nirṇayaḥ
On the Proper Acceptance and Merit of Śiva’s Consecrated Food-Offering
हृदये चन्द्र कान्ते च स्वर्णरूप्यादिनिर्मिते । शिवदीक्षावता भक्तेनेदं भक्ष्यमितीर्य्यते
hṛdaye candra kānte ca svarṇarūpyādinirmite | śivadīkṣāvatā bhaktenedaṃ bhakṣyamitīryyate
Di dalam bekas berbentuk hati, atau bekas batu bulan, atau bekas yang dibuat daripada emas, perak dan seumpamanya, seorang bhakta yang telah menerima Śiva-dīkṣā hendaklah mengisytiharkan: “Inilah makanan suci untuk dipersembahkan (bhakṣya).”
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the ritual injunctions of the Viśveśvarasaṃhitā to the sages)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Ritual precision (proper vessel/material and verbal saṅkalpa) is presented as a means to make the offering a fit conduit for Śiva’s prasāda (grace) to the devotee-community.
Mantra: idaṃ bhakṣyam
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
The verse emphasizes that offerings become spiritually valid when made with Śiva-dīkṣā (initiation) and conscious declaration; devotion is disciplined through proper ritual form, aligning the worshipper (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) through sanctified action.
It supports Saguna Śiva worship by prescribing how naivedya (food offering) is formally presented—using pure, auspicious vessels and a spoken dedication—so the offering is integrated into Linga-pūjā as a consecrated act rather than ordinary eating.
A practical takeaway is to offer food to Śiva in a clean, auspicious vessel and verbally dedicate it as an offering before any consumption; this can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while making the offering.