Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8
लिङ्गपूजनसंक्षेपः
Concise Teaching on Liṅga Worship / Śiva-arcana-vidhi
ततो व्यासेन वै श्रुत्वा शिवपूजादिकं च यत् । मह्यं च पाठितं तेन लोकानां हितकाम्यया
tato vyāsena vai śrutvā śivapūjādikaṃ ca yat | mahyaṃ ca pāṭhitaṃ tena lokānāṃ hitakāmyayā
Sau đó, sau khi thật sự được nghe từ Vyāsa mọi điều về việc thờ phụng Śiva và các pháp hành liên hệ, ta cũng được Ngài truyền dạy, vì Ngài mong cầu lợi ích an lành cho muôn loài.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Significance: Frames Śiva-pūjā as universal welfare-teaching (lokānāṃ hita), implying that hearing/learning proper worship is itself a meritorious sādhana leading to dharma, artha, kāma, and ultimately Śiva’s grace.
FAQs
It highlights the guru-paramparā: sacred knowledge of Śiva-pūjā is preserved and transmitted for loka-hita (the welfare of all), indicating that devotion and correct practice are meant to uplift the entire world toward Śiva’s grace and liberation.
By mentioning “śiva-pūjā-ādikam,” the verse points to structured, teachable worship—commonly expressed through Saguna upāsanā such as Liṅga-pūjā—through which devotees approach Śiva and receive his anugraha (grace).
The verse implies disciplined Śiva-pūjā learned from a competent teacher—typically including mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with associated observances that support steady bhakti.