Shloka 45
शिवपुराण-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Śiva Purāṇa) / Śivapurāṇa Māhātmya
संहितां तां पठन्भक्त्या यः श्राद्धे भोजयेद्द्विजान् । तस्य ये पितरः सर्वे यांति शंभोः परं पदम्
saṃhitāṃ tāṃ paṭhanbhaktyā yaḥ śrāddhe bhojayeddvijān | tasya ye pitaraḥ sarve yāṃti śaṃbhoḥ paraṃ padam
यः भक्त्या तां संहितां पठन् श्राद्धे द्विजान् भोजयति, तस्य सर्वे पितरः शंभोः परं पदं यान्ति।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga legend; it links śrāddha (pitṛ-rite) with Śiva’s ‘parama pada’, asserting that bhakti-infused śiva-śāstra recitation can elevate ancestors.
Significance: Transforms ancestral rites into Śaiva soteriology: pitṛs are led beyond pitṛloka toward Śiva’s supreme state through the descendant’s devotion and gift of food.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that devotional recitation of Śiva’s scripture, joined with righteous ancestral rites (śrāddha), becomes a liberating merit that uplifts one’s pitṛs toward Śiva’s supreme state—showing Śiva as the ultimate refuge and giver of mokṣa.
The verse highlights Saguna devotion—serving Śiva through reverent scripture-recitation and dharmic offerings. Such bhakti-oriented acts are treated as worship of Śambhu, akin in spirit to Liṅga-upāsanā, because they are performed with Śiva as the central intention.
Perform śrāddha with purity, recite the Saṃhitā (or Śiva-stotra/pañcākṣara with devotion), and feed qualified brāhmaṇas as an offering dedicated to Śiva for the benefit of the ancestors.