Shloka 16
Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
शक्रादयो लोकपाला वसवश्च सुरास्तथा । महाराजिकदेवाश्च साध्याश्च शिवपूजकाः
śakrādayo lokapālā vasavaśca surāstathā | mahārājikadevāśca sādhyāśca śivapūjakāḥ
ఇంద్రుడు మొదలైన లోకపాలకులు, వసువులు మరియు దేవగణాలు, అలాగే మహారాజిక దేవతలు, సాధ్యులు—అందరూ పరమేశ్వర శివుని పూజకులే.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Type: rudram
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It declares the universality of Śiva-bhakti: even the highest cosmic administrators—Indra, the Lokapālas, and other celestial classes—take refuge in worship of Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord), implying that liberation and auspiciousness ultimately depend on devotion to Śiva.
In the Kotirudra context (Jyotirliṅga glorification), the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through worshipful forms such as the Liṅga—showing that divine beings themselves honor Śiva through pūjā, reinforcing the Liṅga as a valid and exalted focus of devotion.
The takeaway is steady Śiva-pūjā with mantra-japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with simple offerings (water, bilva leaves) and, where appropriate, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supportive Shaiva disciplines.