Shloka 18
Śivapūjā-stuti: Deva-Ṛṣi-Paramparāyāṃ Śaṃkara-caritasya Prastāvaḥ
Prelude to Śaṃkara’s narrative and the lineage of Śiva-worship
हिरण्यकशिपुर्देत्यस्सानुजत्ससुतो मुने । शिवपूजाकरो नित्यं विरोचनबली तथा
hiraṇyakaśipurdetyassānujatsasuto mune | śivapūjākaro nityaṃ virocanabalī tathā
اے مُنی، دَیتیہ ہِرنیکشیپو اپنے چھوٹے بھائی اور بیٹے سمیت ہمیشہ شیو پوجا میں لگا رہتا تھا؛ اسی طرح ویروچن اور بَلی بھی روزانہ بھگوان شیو کی آراधنا میں مشغول تھے۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse functions as a bhakti-catalogue showing Śiva’s universal lordship extending even to Daityas, implying Śiva’s anugraha is not restricted by birth or varṇa.
Significance: Encourages non-sectarian Śiva-bhakti: even those classed as ‘asura’ can become recipients of Śiva’s grace through nitya-pūjā.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It emphasizes that Shiva’s grace is approached through steady devotion (nitya-puja), showing that bhakti to Pati (Lord Shiva) can arise even among powerful beings like the Daityas, and that worship itself is a purifying discipline leading toward liberation when aligned with dharma.
The verse highlights regular, embodied worship—typical of Saguna Shiva devotion—commonly expressed through Linga-puja with offerings, mantra, and reverence, which Kotirudra narratives often connect to sacred tirthas and Jyotirlinga-centered practice.
The key takeaway is nitya Shiva-puja: daily remembrance with the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and traditional Shaiva aids such as Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha to stabilize devotion and inner focus.