Daily practice

Shiva Puja Vidhi

A simple daily Shiva puja arrangement as commonly practised at home.

4 min

Deity: Shiva
Tradition: Shaiva
Occasion: Daily practice
Source: Nitya Karm Pooja Prakash (Gita Press); Shukla Yajurveda Rudram (Mahamrityunjaya); Rudrashtakam.

सामग्री

Required materials

Shivalinga or Shiva murti
Copper vessel and abhisheka spout (if available)
Clean water, and Gangajal if available
Panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar)
Bilva (bel) leaves — trifoliate, offered upside down
White flowers (dhatura, aak also traditional)
Chandan (sandal) and vibhuti (bhasma)
Akshata (unbroken rice)
Dhoop and a ghee lamp
Fruit and a simple bhog for naivedya
Camphor for aarti
Belpatra count as available (traditionally in threes)

संकल्प

Sankalpa

ॐ विष्णुर्विष्णुर्विष्णुः। अद्य (देश-काल-तिथि-वार-नक्षत्रोच्चारणपूर्वकम्) (नाम)-नामाहं (गोत्र)-गोत्रः मम आत्मनः श्रुतिस्मृतिपुराणोक्तफलप्राप्त्यर्थं श्रीShivaप्रीत्यर्थं यथाशक्ति पूजनम् अहं करिष्ये॥

Recite the sankalpa holding water, flowers and rice in the right palm; then release the water.

पूजा विधि

Step-by-step procedure

1
Achamana & Sankalpa (आचमन-संकल्प)
Purify with achamana, then state the sankalpa of intent with water and akshata.
2
Dhyana & Aavahan (ध्यान-आवाहन)
Meditate on Shiva as the calm, auspicious one and invoke him with 'ॐ नमः शिवाय'.
3
Abhisheka (अभिषेक)
Bathe the linga with water/Gangajal, then panchamrit, then pure water, chanting 'ॐ नमः शिवाय' or the Rudra mantra throughout.
4
Vibhuti & Chandan (विभूति-चन्दन)
Apply three horizontal lines of bhasma and chandan tilak.
5
Bilva-patra & Pushpa (बिल्वपत्र)
Offer bilva leaves (smooth side down) and white flowers, one per mantra.
6
Akshata & Dhoop-Deep (अक्षत-धूप-दीप)
Offer unbroken rice, then incense and the lamp.
7
Naivedya (नैवेद्य)
Offer fruit / simple bhog and water; avoid haldi-kumkum on the linga itself.
8
Rudra Namaskara (नमस्कार)
Recite the Mahamrityunjaya and offer prostrations.
9
Aarti & Pradakshina (आरती-प्रदक्षिणा)
Perform camphor aarti; circumambulate only up to the jaladhari (do not cross it) and return.
10
Kshama & Prasada (क्षमा-प्रसाद)
Seek forgiveness, pray for well-being, and share prasada.

मंत्र

Mantras

ॐ नमः शिवाय

oṃ namaḥ śivāya

The Panchakshara — the five-syllable heart of Shiva worship; used for abhisheka and offerings.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान् मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्॥

oṃ tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ puṣṭi-vardhanam · urvārukam iva bandhanān mṛtyor mukṣīya mā'mṛtāt

Mahamrityunjaya — we worship the three-eyed one; may he free us from the bondage of death, as the cucumber from its stalk, unto immortality.

नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम्।

namāmīśam īśāna nirvāṇa-rūpaṃ vibhuṃ vyāpakaṃ brahma-veda-svarūpam

Opening of the Rudrashtakam — I bow to Ishana, of the form of liberation, all-pervading, the very form of Brahman and the Veda.

उपचार

Offerings (Upachara)

ॐ गन्धं समर्पयामि।

oṃ gandhaṃ samarpayāmi

I offer sandal paste (gandha).

ॐ पुष्पं समर्पयामि।

oṃ puṣpaṃ samarpayāmi

I offer flowers (pushpa).

ॐ धूपमाघ्रापयामि।

oṃ dhūpam āghrāpayāmi

I offer incense (dhupa).

ॐ दीपं दर्शयामि।

oṃ dīpaṃ darśayāmi

I show the lamp (deepa).

ॐ नैवेद्यं निवेदयामि।

oṃ naivedyaṃ nivedayāmi

I offer the food (naivedya).

Standard panchopachara — offer each item while reciting the corresponding mantra.

Sources & References

Source / TraditionNitya Karm Pooja Prakash (Gita Press); Shukla Yajurveda Rudram (Mahamrityunjaya); Rudrashtakam.

Editorial NotePresented as a common shodashopachara (sixteen-offering) household practice. Regional and family customs vary — follow your kula-parampara where it differs.

Dharmartha presents traditional knowledge with respect for its sources. Practices vary by lineage and region; this material does not assert exclusive or universal authority.

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