Pāśupata-vrata Māhātmya: Dvādaśa-Liṅga Mahāvrata, Month-wise Dravya, and Pūjā-krama
पद्माश्रितो महादेवः सर्वदेवपतिः शिवः तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन श्रीपत्त्रं न त्यजेद्बुधः
padmāśrito mahādevaḥ sarvadevapatiḥ śivaḥ tasmātsarvaprayatnena śrīpattraṃ na tyajedbudhaḥ
पद्मासने स्थितो महादेवः सर्वदेवपतिः शिवः। तस्मात् सर्वप्रयत्नेन श्रीबिल्वपत्रं न त्यजेद् बुधः॥
Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)
It elevates the bilva leaf (śrīpatra) as a non-negotiable, Śiva-pleasing offering in liṅga-pūjā, urging sustained discipline in ritual devotion as a means for the pashu (individual soul) to draw near to Pati (Śiva).
Śiva is presented as Mahādeva and sarvadevapati—the sovereign Lord beyond and above the devas—indicating Pati-tattva: the supreme ruler who receives worship and grants grace for release from pāśa (bondage).
It highlights pūjā-vidhi centered on bilva-leaf offering to the liṅga—an act of disciplined devotion that supports inner purification and steadiness aligned with Pāśupata-oriented practice.