Lord Shiva puja vidhi is a complete spiritual process centered on purification, abhishek (ritual bathing), mantra chanting, and devotion. It can be performed daily or on special days like Monday and Shivaratri.
Preparation
Take bath and wear clean clothes
Clean the puja place properly
Place Shivling or Shiva image on a clean platform
Sit facing East or North direction
Maintain calm and focused mind
Samagri (Puja Items)
Shivling or image of Lord Shiva
Water (jal) or Gangajal
Milk
Curd
Honey
Ghee
Sugar (for Panchamrit)
Bel Patra (Bilva leaves - 3 leaf set)
Datura and Bhaang (optional)
White flowers
Chandan (sandalwood paste)
Incense sticks (dhoop)
Diya (lamp with oil or ghee)
Fruits and sweets (bhog)
Camphor for aarti
Kalash (optional with mango leaves)
Sankalp
- 1
Take water in right hand
- 2
State your name, date, and purpose of puja
- 3
Pray for peace, health, and prosperity
Ganesh Vandana
- 1
Start puja by remembering Lord Ganesha
- 2
Chant 'Om Gan Ganapataye Namah' at least 3 times
- 3
Seek removal of obstacles
Kalash Sthapana (Optional)
- 1
Fill a kalash with water
- 2
Place mango leaves and coconut on top
- 3
Keep it near Shivling as a symbol of purity and life
Abhishek (Main Ritual)
- 1
Offer plain water on Shivling
- 2
Pour milk slowly
- 3
Offer curd
- 4
Offer honey
- 5
Offer ghee
- 6
Offer sugar
- 7
Finally pour clean water again
- 8
Continuously chant 'Om Namah Shivaya' during abhishek
Offering Bel Patra
- 1
Take fresh 3-leaf Bel Patra
- 2
Place it upside down on Shivling
- 3
Ensure leaves are not torn
- 4
Chant 'Om Namah Shivaya' while offering
Chandan and Flowers
- 1
Apply chandan (sandalwood paste) on Shivling
- 2
Offer white flowers with devotion
Dhoop and Deep
- 1
Light incense sticks (dhoop)
- 2
Light diya (lamp)
- 3
Rotate them clockwise in front of Shivling
Naivedya (Bhog)
- 1
Offer fruits, sweets, or milk
- 2
Sprinkle water around the bhog
- 3
Offer with gratitude and devotion
Mantra Jaap
- 1
Chant 'Om Namah Shivaya' (11, 21, or 108 times)
- 2
Recite Mahamrityunjaya Mantra
- 3
Optionally recite Shiva Chalisa or Rudrashtakam
Aarti
- 1
Light camphor
- 2
Perform aarti in circular motion
- 3
Sing 'Om Jai Shiv Omkara'
Pradakshina
- 1
Do 3 or 7 rounds around Shivling
- 2
Avoid full circle if following traditional Shivling rule
- 3
Maintain respect and focus
Pranam and Prasad
- 1
Bow down to Lord Shiva
- 2
Pray silently
- 3
Distribute prasad among family members
Best Time for Puja
Monday (Somvar)
Maha Shivaratri
Shravan (Sawan month)
Early morning (Brahma Muhurta)
Important Rules
Do not offer Tulsi leaves to Shiva. Always use fresh and clean items. Maintain purity of mind and body. Devotion (bhakti) is more important than ritual complexity.
For daily simple puja, you can offer water and Bel Patra, chant 'Om Namah Shivaya' 11 times, and perform a short aarti. This is sufficient when done with devotion.