Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 10
Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
अरुंधती मदासाध्वी लोपामुद्रा तथैव च । अहल्या गौतमस्त्री च शिवपूजनकारिकाः
aruṃdhatī madāsādhvī lopāmudrā tathaiva ca | ahalyā gautamastrī ca śivapūjanakārikāḥ
“Si Arundhatī, ang banal na Madāsādhvī, si Lopāmudrā, at si Ahalyā—maybahay ni Gautama—ay pawang kinikilala bilang mga tapat na nagsasagawa ng pagsamba sa Panginoong Śiva.”
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: By naming exemplary pativratā/ṛṣi-patnīs as Śiva-pūjā practitioners, the text universalizes access to Śiva’s grace beyond gender and āśrama; the implied merit is household sanctification and pāśa-kṣaya through devotion.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It presents ideal devotees—women celebrated for purity, discipline, and steadfast bhakti—showing that sincere Śiva-pūjā (performed with faith and right conduct) is a direct means to earn Śiva’s grace and spiritual upliftment.
By praising them as śivapūjanakārikāḥ, the verse highlights Saguna worship—devotional pūjā of Śiva, commonly centered on the Śiva-liṅga—as an authoritative and efficacious path within the Kotirudra narrative framework.
Emulate their example with regular Śiva-pūjā: offer water and bilva leaves to the liṅga, recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and maintain purity and self-restraint as part of daily devotion.