Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 142
Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā
पूजयेद्भोजनाद्यैश्च पंच वा दश वा शतम् । धने देहे च मंत्रे च भावनायामवंचकः
pūjayedbhojanādyaiśca paṃca vā daśa vā śatam | dhane dehe ca maṃtre ca bhāvanāyāmavaṃcakaḥ
Hãy thờ phụng (Śiva) bằng các lễ vật như ẩm thực—dù là năm, mười, hay đến một trăm phần. Trong của cải, trong hạnh kiểm thân thể, trong việc hành trì thần chú, và trong sự quán niệm nội tâm, người ấy phải không dối trá.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: General tīrtha/temple ethic: sincerity (avañcakatā) in offerings and mantra is itself an offering that makes worship efficacious.
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is validated by integrity: offerings may be few or many, but liberation-oriented devotion requires non-deceit in one’s resources, conduct, mantra-japa, and inner intention.
In Linga/Saguṇa worship, external upacāras like naivedya are meaningful only when matched by truthful bhāva; the verse links ritual offering to inner sincerity, making the Linga-pūjā a complete act of devotion.
Offer naivedya (food and related items) in measured sets (five/ten/hundred as capacity allows) and perform mantra-japa with honest intention, maintaining purity in bodily discipline and steady bhāvanā (contemplative focus on Śiva).