Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45
तुलसी-शङ्खचूडोपाख्यानम् — Viṣṇu’s Disguise and the Tulasī Episode
Prelude to Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Fall
कियत्कालं महादेवि देवपूजनसाधने । प्रधानरूपा तुलसी भविष्यति वरेण मे
kiyatkālaṃ mahādevi devapūjanasādhane | pradhānarūpā tulasī bhaviṣyati vareṇa me
اے مہادیوی، دیوتاؤں کی پوجا کے سادن میں میرے دیے ہوئے ور کے سبب تُلسی کتنے عرصے تک سب سے برتر وسیلہ بنی رہے گی؟
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
Sthala Purana: The verse frames Tulasī as a divinely authorized upacāra for deva-pūjā by Śiva’s vara; it functions as a ritual-authorization passage rather than a Jyotirliṅga episode.
Significance: Establishes a normative ritual medium (tulasī) as a grace-bestowed aid (anugraha) for worship, implying accessibility of devotion across varṇa/āśrama through simple offerings.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse highlights that sincere bhakti becomes embodied in sacred offerings; Shiva’s boon makes Tulasī a leading support for deva-pūjā, showing that grace can sanctify a simple leaf into a powerful aid for worship.
In Saguna worship (including Liṅga-pūjā), specific pure offerings serve as tangible supports for devotion; this verse frames Tulasī as a divinely authorized, foremost offering-medium for worship performed with faith and purity.
It suggests devotional pūjā using sanctified offerings—especially Tulasī—performed with mantra and reverence; as a simple takeaway, offer Tulasī with focused japa (e.g., the Panchākṣarī) and a pure intention.