॥ Shiv Puja Vidhi ॥
Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Home Worship of Lord Shiva
When to Perform
- Monday (Somvar) — Shiva’s most sacred day; weekly puja
- Maha Shivratri — the greatest annual Shiva festival
- Shravan Month — the entire month dedicated to Shiva worship
- Pradosh Kaal — the 13th lunar day at twilight (twice monthly)
- Daily morning puja — before beginning the day
Puja Samagri
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Shivalinga | Stone, crystal, or metal form |
| Bel/Vilva leaves | Three-leafed; most sacred to Shiva |
| White flowers | Dhatura, white lotus, champa |
| Gangajal | Sacred water from the Ganga |
| Milk | For Abhishekam |
| Curd | For Abhishekam |
| Honey | For Abhishekam |
| Ghee | For Abhishekam |
| Sugar water | For Abhishekam |
| Coconut water | Optional, pure and cooling |
| Bhasma (sacred ash) | Applied to the Shivalinga |
| Sandalwood paste | White, applied to the linga |
| Rudraksha mala | For mantra japa |
| Camphor | For aarti |
| Sesame seeds | Offered in Shravan and Shivratri |
Step 1: Purification
Bathe before puja. Put on clean clothes (white or orange/saffron preferred for Shiva worship).
Achamana (sipping water three times):
“Om Shivaya namah” (sip)
“Om Mahadevaya namah” (sip)
“Om Shankaraya namah” (sip)
Step 2: Sankalpa
“Om tatsad adya — I perform this Shiv Puja for my well-being, the well-being of my family, for liberation from all obstacles and sins. May Lord Shiva be pleased.”
Step 3: Invoke Lord Ganesha First
“Om Gam Ganapataye namah” — offer a durva leaf and modak
Even Shiva puja begins with Ganesha worship — this is the universal rule of Hindu dharma. Ganesha is the gateway through which all divine grace flows.
Step 4: Abhishekam — The Sacred Bathing
The Abhishekam is the most important part of Shiva puja. Each substance carries a specific blessing:
Panchamrit Abhishekam
1. Milk (Ksheera):
While pouring, recite: “Om Namah Shivaya — Ksheera Abhishekam Samarpayami”
Blessing: Purity, nourishment, and health for the family
2. Curd (Dadhi):
“Om Namah Shivaya — Dadhi Abhishekam Samarpayami”
Blessing: Prosperity and removal of poverty
3. Honey (Madhu):
“Om Namah Shivaya — Madhu Abhishekam Samarpayami”
Blessing: Sweet relations, harmony in family and society
4. Ghee (Ghrita):
“Om Namah Shivaya — Ghrita Abhishekam Samarpayami”
Blessing: Longevity, vitality, and spiritual progress
5. Sugar water (Sharkara):
“Om Namah Shivaya — Sharkara Jala Abhishekam Samarpayami”
Blessing: Fulfilment of desires and sweetness of life
Final Bathing with Gangajal
Pour sacred Ganga water or clean water over the Shivalinga to cleanse it:
“Om Namah Shivaya — Gangodaka Snanam Samarpayami”
Step 5: Apply Bhasma (Sacred Ash)
Apply three horizontal lines of sacred ash (tripundra) on the Shivalinga:
“Om Tryambakam Yajāmahe — Bhasmam Dhārayāmi”
The three lines represent:
- The three eyes of Shiva
- The three fires (knowledge, desire, action)
- The three qualities (gunas) — sattva, rajas, tamas — transcended by Shiva
Step 6: Offer Bel/Vilva Leaves
The Bel leaf (Aegle marmelos) is the most sacred offering to Lord Shiva. Offer 11 or 21 bel leaves, chanting:
“Om Namah Shivaya — Bilva Patrani Samarpayami”
The significance of the three-leafed Bel:
- The three leaflets represent the three eyes of Shiva
- They represent the Holy Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva)
- They represent the three syllables of Shiva (Shi-Va-Ya)
- They represent past, present, and future — all offered to the Lord
The Shiva Purana states: “Offering a single bel leaf to Lord Shiva is equal to offering all sacred rivers, all pilgrimages, all yagnas, and all acts of charity performed over one crore lifetimes.”
Step 7: Offer Flowers, Fruits, and Incense
Flowers: White lotus, dhatura, white champa — avoid red flowers for Shiva
Fruits: Coconut, banana, berries
Incense: Light sandalwood incense
Dhoop: Wave dhoop (incense stick) in circular motion
While offering each item: “Om Namah Shivaya — [item] Samarpayami”
Step 8: Pradakshina (Circumambulation)
Walk around the Shivalinga in a specific way: only half-circle (ardha-pradakshina) on each side. Never complete a full circle around the Shivalinga — this is a unique rule specific to Shiva worship.
The reason: the Somasutra (the channel through which the Abhishekam water flows) must never be crossed. The devotee circumambulates to the water channel and then returns.
Chant while walking: “Om Namah Shivaya”
Step 9: Mahamrityunjaya Mantra Japa
Recite the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra on the Rudraksha mala:
Repeat 11, 21, or 108 times.
Step 10: Shiva Aarti
Light the camphor and wave it before the Shivalinga while singing:
Jaya Śiva oṃkāra, svāmī jaya Śiva oṃkāra
Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Sadāśiva, ardhāṃgī dhārā
Step 11: Concluding Prayer
“Shiv puja sampurna. Agar koi bhool chook hui ho, Mahadev maaf karo. Apna prasad grahanaya swikara karen.”
(The puja is complete. If any error occurred, please forgive it, Mahadev. Please accept this offering and your prasad.)
Offer the coconut pieces and fruit as prasad to the family.
Phala Shruti
Śiva pūjāṃ karoti yo bhaktyā somavāre viśeṣataḥ
Tasya sarva vighnā naśyaṃti, mokṣaṃ prāpnoti niścitam
“Whoever performs Shiva puja with sincere devotion — especially on Mondays — all their obstacles are destroyed and liberation is certain for them.”