Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 36
Śiva-Naivedya-Grāhyatā-Nirṇayaḥ
On the Proper Acceptance and Merit of Śiva’s Consecrated Food-Offering
विभूत्यभ्यर्चनं कुर्याद्विभूतिं च निवेदयेत् । पूजां कृत्वा तथा लिंगं शिरसाधारयेत्सदा
vibhūtyabhyarcanaṃ kuryādvibhūtiṃ ca nivedayet | pūjāṃ kṛtvā tathā liṃgaṃ śirasādhārayetsadā
Dapat magsamba gamit ang vibhūti, ang banal na abo, at ihandog din ang vibhūti na iyon nang may debosyon. Pagkatapos maisagawa ang pagsamba, laging itaas at parang ipatong sa ulo ang Śiva-liṅga—ibig sabihin, igalang ito bilang kataas-taasan at itatag sa kamalayang may paggalang.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse teaches that vibhūti (bhasma) is both an offering and a purifier: it symbolizes the burning away of ego and impurity, and it orients the devotee toward Pati (Śiva) as the supreme refuge, aligning devotion with inner detachment.
The liṅga is the accessible saguna focus through which the devotee reveres the nirguna reality of Śiva. Offering vibhūti and then ‘bearing the liṅga on the head’ expresses complete surrender and highest honor to Śiva’s presence established in the liṅga.
Perform bhasma-based worship—offer vibhūti during liṅga-pūjā—and conclude by mentally (and where ritually appropriate, symbolically) placing Śiva above oneself, cultivating constant remembrance and reverence (sadā) for the liṅga.