Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 84
लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः
Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi
कल्याणं जायते तस्य शुक्लपक्षे यथा शशी । वर्द्धते सद्गुणस्तत्र ध्रुवं शंकरपूजनात्
kalyāṇaṃ jāyate tasya śuklapakṣe yathā śaśī | varddhate sadguṇastatra dhruvaṃ śaṃkarapūjanāt
ความเป็นสิริมงคลย่อมเกิดแก่เขา ดุจพระจันทร์ที่เพิ่มพูนในข้างขึ้น และด้วยการบูชาพระศังกร คุณธรรมอันประเสริฐย่อมเจริญขึ้นโดยแน่นอน
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: General: Śaṅkara-pūjā increases kalyāṇa and sadguṇa, preparing the paśu for Śiva’s grace and eventual liberation.
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
Cosmic Event: Śuklapakṣa (waxing lunar fortnight) imagery used as an upamā for gradual increase of auspiciousness.
FAQs
It teaches that regular worship of Śaṅkara naturally produces kalyāṇa (auspicious well-being) and causes sadguṇas (noble virtues) to steadily grow, like the waxing moon—indicating gradual, observable inner purification.
The verse highlights the transformative fruit of devotional practice: worship of Śaṅkara in a manifest, approachable form (Saguna—commonly through the Śiva-liṅga) refines the devotee’s conduct and mind, preparing one for deeper realization of Shiva as the supreme Pati.
Consistent Śiva-pūjā—such as offering water, bilva leaves, and chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is implied as the discipline through which auspiciousness and virtues increase over time.