Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 26
पुष्पार्पण-विनिर्णयः
Determination of Flower-Offerings to Śiva
आयुष्कामो भवेद्यो वै दूर्वाभिः पूजनश्चरेत् । पुत्रकामो भवेद्यो वै धत्तूरकुसुमैश्चरेत्
āyuṣkāmo bhavedyo vai dūrvābhiḥ pūjanaścaret | putrakāmo bhavedyo vai dhattūrakusumaiścaret
ผู้ใดปรารถนาอายุยืน พึงบูชาด้วยหญ้าดูรวา; และผู้ใดปรารถนาบุตร พึงบูชาด้วยดอกธัตตูระ
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa teachings to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Vaidyanātha
Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha
Sthala Purana: By association, Śiva as the supreme physician (Vaidya) who removes afflictions and grants ārogya/āyuḥ; this verse’s longevity focus resonates with the Vaidyanātha healing theology, though it is not an explicit Jyotirliṅga citation here.
Significance: Sought for healing, longevity, and relief from suffering; pilgrims perform offerings and japa seeking protection of life-force.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that sincere Śiva-pūjā can harmonize both dharma and legitimate human aims (āyus and progeny), while keeping devotion to Pati (Śiva) at the center; the offering becomes a disciplined act of bhakti rather than mere bargaining.
The verse prescribes specific upacāras (offerings) used in saguna worship—typically to the Śiva-liṅga—showing how material substances, when offered with devotion, become vehicles for grace (anugraha) within Purāṇic ritual practice.
Perform Śiva-pūjā by offering dūrvā grass for longevity and dhattūra flowers for progeny, ideally alongside mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and standard liṅga-upacāras.