Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15
गिरिराजस्य शिवनिमन्त्रणम् / The Mountain-King Invites Śiva
Hospitality to Śiva and the Devas
प्रक्षाल्य चरणौ शम्भोर्विष्णोर्मम वरादरात् । सर्वेषाममराणाञ्च मुनीनाञ्च यथार्थतः
prakṣālya caraṇau śambhorviṣṇormama varādarāt | sarveṣāmamarāṇāñca munīnāñca yathārthataḥ
मम वरादरात् यथार्थतः शम्भोः विष्णोश्च चरणौ प्रक्षाल्य, सर्वेषाममराणां मुनीनां चापि चरणौ प्रक्षालितवानस्मि।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages, within the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa narrative)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
FAQs
It highlights bhakti expressed as humble service (seva): honoring the Lord (Śiva) and the revered divine order (devas and sages). In a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, such reverence purifies the pashu (bound soul) and supports inner readiness for Shiva’s grace (anugraha).
Washing the feet is a classic gesture of honoring Saguna Shiva through tangible ritual action. In Linga worship, the same spirit appears as abhiṣeka and careful upacāras—external purity mirroring inner surrender to the Lord as Pati.
It suggests purification and reverential upacāra in pūjā—approaching Shiva with cleanliness, humility, and truthfulness. As a takeaway, perform Shiva-pūjā with sincere devotion (often alongside japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a service-attitude rather than mere formality.