Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
सुमित्रा च शिवं प्रीत्या कैकेयी नृपवल्लभा । पूजयामास सत्पुत्रप्राप्तये मुनिसत्तम
sumitrā ca śivaṃ prītyā kaikeyī nṛpavallabhā | pūjayāmāsa satputraprāptaye munisattama
ఓ మునిశ్రేష్ఠా! సుమిత్రా మరియు రాజుకు ప్రియమైన కైకేయి, సత్పుత్రప్రాప్తి కోరి ప్రేమభక్తితో శ్రీశివుని పూజించారు।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Offering: pushpa
It presents Śiva-bhakti as both spiritually purifying and practically sustaining dharma: devotion to Lord Śiva, offered with love, is shown to support righteous household life by granting “satputras” (virtuous offspring) who uphold dharma.
The verse highlights affectionate, intentional worship of Śiva in His accessible (saguṇa) form—commonly through Liṅga-pūjā—where the devotee approaches the Lord as a compassionate bestower of grace and boons while remaining rooted in reverence.
A practical takeaway is Śiva-pūjā with bhakti—such as daily Liṅga-abhiṣeka and repetition of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—performed with the sankalpa of dharmic progeny and family welfare.