Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 62
गणेशाभिषेक-वरदान-विधानम् | Gaṇeśa’s Consecration, Boons, and Prescribed Worship
तथेत्युक्त्वा तु तैस्सर्वैर्गणैश्शंभुप्रियैर्मुने । पूजितो हि गणाधीशो विधिना परमेण सः
tathetyuktvā tu taissarvairgaṇaiśśaṃbhupriyairmune | pūjito hi gaṇādhīśo vidhinā parameṇa saḥ
O pantas, matapos sabihin ng lahat, “Gayon nga,” ang lahat ng gaṇa na minamahal ni Śambhu ay marapat na sumamba kay Gaṇādhiśa, ang Panginoon ng mga gaṇa, ayon sa pinakadakilang itinakdang ritwal.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: Models proper response to Śiva’s ordinance: communal assent (‘tathā’) followed by vidhi-based worship—suggesting that obedience and right ritual form support receptivity to grace.
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights that devotion aligned with proper sacred method (vidhi) sanctifies worship: Śiva’s own gaṇas honor Gaṇādhiśa, showing that reverence within Śiva’s divine order supports grace and auspiciousness on the path to liberation.
In a Shaiva Siddhanta frame, saguna worship is performed through ordained rites and through honoring Śiva’s manifestations and retinue; worship of Gaṇādhiśa functions as an अंग (supporting limb) of Śiva-bhakti, removing obstacles to Linga-pūjā and deeper meditation on Pati (Śiva).
The takeaway is to perform pūjā “by the highest rite” (parama-vidhi): begin worship with Gaṇeśa/Gaṇanātha for obstacle-removal, then proceed with disciplined Shiva-upāsanā—mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), purity, and orderly offerings.