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Shiv Puja Vidhi (शिव पूजा विधि)

A simple home method for Shivling puja and Rudrabhishek: materials, order of the abhishek, mantras, rules and Shivratri puja.

⏱ About 30–45 minutes 🧺 9 items 🪔 13 steps
WhenMaterialsMethodMantrasRulesMuhuratFAQ

When to do it

  • Every Monday
  • Pradosh Vrat
  • Mahashivratri
  • The month of Shravan

Puja materials checklist

Puja method (step by step)

1

Bath and purification

Bathe and wear clean, preferably freshly washed clothes. Keep the mind calm and put your phone away.

2

Prepare the place

Clean the place of worship. East or north-east is considered best. Spread a clean cloth on a low wooden seat (chowki) and install the idol or picture.

3

Lamp and achaman

Light the lamp and incense. Take water in the right palm and sip it three times (achaman).

ॐ केशवाय नमः। ॐ नारायणाय नमः। ॐ माधवाय नमः।
4

Sankalp (resolve)

Holding water, rice grains (akshat) and a flower in your hand, say silently your name, gotra (if known) and the purpose of the puja, then pour the water on the ground. A resolve in simple language is also valid.

5

Ganesh vandana

Remembering Ganesha before any puja is considered auspicious in tradition.

वक्रतुंड महाकाय सूर्यकोटि समप्रभ। निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा॥
6

Jalabhishek

Calmly offer water to the Shivling in a thin stream.

ॐ नमः शिवाय॥
7

Panchamrit abhishek

Perform the abhishek in order with milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar, purifying with water in between.

8

Sandalwood, bhasma and akshat

Apply a tripundra of sandalwood or bhasma and offer akshat.

9

Bel patra and flowers

Offer a whole bel leaf with the smooth side down. Offer dhatura and white flowers.

10

Mantra japa

Chant Om Namah Shivaya 108 times. You may also recite the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra.

ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥
11

Aarti

Perform aarti with a ghee lamp. Let all family members stand together, and take the aarti at the end.

12

Prayer for forgiveness

Ask humbly for forgiveness for any mistake made during the puja.

आवाहनं न जानामि न जानामि विसर्जनम्। पूजां चैव न जानामि क्षमस्व परमेश्वर॥
13

Prasad and closing

Share the prasad with everyone and take some yourself. Take the blessings of elders. Immerse flowers and other puja materials in flowing water or under a tree, rather than throwing them in the trash.

Mantras

Panchakshara
ॐ नमः शिवाय॥
Mahamrityunjaya
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्। उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात्॥
Shiv Gayatri
ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि। तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात्॥

✔ Do

  • Bathe and wear clean clothes before the puja
  • Sit with a calm mind and faith
  • Keep the bhog clean and prepared at home
  • Share the prasad with everyone after the puja
  • After the abhishek, do a half circumambulation of the Shivling (tradition)

✘ Do not

  • Do not get distracted by your phone or conversation during the puja
  • Avoid anger, gossip and harsh speech
  • Do not offer stale or impure flowers and bhog
  • Do not place the idol or picture directly on the floor
  • Tulsi, turmeric and ketaki flowers are not offered in Shiva puja (tradition)
  • Do not offer water with a conch (tradition)

Common mistakes

  • Offering torn or broken bel leaves
  • Doing a full circumambulation; the rule for the Shivling is considered a half circumambulation
  • Offering tulsi

Auspicious muhurat

Puja on Mondays and in the Pradosh Kaal is considered auspicious. Check the panchang for the date and time of Mahashivratri and Pradosh.

See today’s panchang →   Festival calendar →

Related aarti, katha and mantra

Om Jai Shiv OmkaraShiv ChalisaRudrashtakamMahamrityunjaya MantraSomvar Vrat KathaMahashivratri KathaPradosh Vrat Katha

Frequently asked questions

What should be offered to the Shivling?
Water, milk, bel patra, dhatura, aak flowers, bhasma and white flowers.
Can a Shivling be kept at home?
Yes, a small Shivling can be kept. Offering water daily and keeping it clean is the tradition.
Can women offer water to the Shivling?
Yes, women offer water and bel leaves with faith.
How can Rudrabhishek be done at home?
In a simple form, perform the abhishek with water, milk and panchamrit while chanting Om Namah Shivaya or the Rudri path. For a special method, take a pandit’s guidance.
What can be eaten in the Monday fast?
Fruit, milk, sabudana, kuttu. Decide on fasting according to your health.

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Note: puja methods vary by family, region and sect. The method given here is a simple, general form. Give priority to your family tradition or your pandit’s guidance.