Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
देवस्तुतिः (Devastuti) — Hymn/Praise of the Devas
शालग्रामशिला च त्वं शिलासु वृषभध्वज । पूज्य रूपेषु सर्वेषु नर्मदालिंगमेव हि
śālagrāmaśilā ca tvaṃ śilāsu vṛṣabhadhvaja | pūjya rūpeṣu sarveṣu narmadāliṃgameva hi
โอ้พระมหาเทพผู้มีธงวัว! ในหมู่ศิลา พระองค์คือศาลครามศิลา; และในบรรดารูปอันควรบูชาทั้งปวง พระองค์คือ “นรมทา-ลึงคะ” อันประเสริฐยิ่ง น่ากราบไหว้ที่สุด।
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s glory to the sages at Naimisharanya, as typical of the Purana’s frame)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara
Sthala Purana: The verse elevates the Narmadā-borne natural liṅga as supremely worship-worthy; in Śaiva pilgrimage imagination the Narmadā is a liṅga-tīrtha par excellence, with Oṃkāreśvara/Māṃdhātā as the river’s central liṅga-kṣetra where Śiva is adored as self-manifest and granting siddhi through darśana and abhiṣeka.
Significance: Darśana/abhiṣeka of a svayambhū-liṅga and reverence to Narmadā-liṅgas is praised as highly meritorious, associated with purification of pāśa (bondage) and strengthening bhakti leading toward Śiva’s anugraha.
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse ranks sacred emblems of divinity and declares that Shiva is especially accessible through the Liṅga—most notably the naturally sanctified Narmadā Liṅga—affirming bhakti (devotional worship) as a direct means toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.
It presents the Liṅga as a pre-eminent saguna (worshipable) manifestation of Shiva: though Shiva is ultimately nirguna, devotees approach Him through consecrated forms, and the Narmadā Liṅga is praised as exceptionally worthy for pūjā and abhiṣeka.
Perform Liṅga-pūjā—especially Narmadā Liṅga abhiṣeka with water (and traditional offerings), while mentally repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating steady devotion and inner surrender.