Whoever, with sincere desire, performs the three great planetary sacrifices attains the exalted abode of Vishnu—a realm so blissful that returning from it is difficult indeed. Moreover, those who regularly listen to, or have recited, the account of these sacrifices are shielded from planetary afflictions and spared from the sorrow of losing their loved ones. In any house where the three planetary sacrifices are written and preserved, children remain untouched by suffering, disease is kept at bay, and bondage finds no foothold. Such is the power of these rites: they bestow the complete fruit of all sacrifices and utterly destroy all sins. The wise recognize that a rite involving a million offerings grants both worldly enjoyment and ultimate liberation. The best of the gods have declared that a hundred-thousand-offering rite yields the fruit of the mighty ashvamedha sacrifice; likewise, a twelve-day sacrifice or the nine-planet rite brings the same result. Thus, for the sake of festive joy, the devayajña consecration has been described—a rite that washes away all impurities. Whoever recites or hears this in proper course will overcome all enemies and be blessed with long life and health. Turning to the forms of the planets, the Sun is ever to be depicted seated in the lotus posture, holding a lotus, his radiance glowing like the heart of a lotus flower. He is drawn by seven horses with seven reins and has two arms. The Moon is shown as pure white, dressed in white garments, riding a white horse and vehicle, holding a mace, two-armed, and generously bestowing boons. Mars, son of the Earth, is to be portrayed adorned with red garlands and garments, holding a spear, trident, and mace in his four arms, his hair white, and his demeanor granting blessings. Mercury appears in yellow garlands and garments, shining like the karnikara flower, holding a sword, shield, and mace, seated upon a lion, and ever ready to grant boons. The preceptors of gods and demons, too, are depicted as yellow and white, four-armed, holding staffs, prayer beads, and water pots, and bestowing boons. Saturn, son of the Sun, has the deep luster of a sapphire, holds a trident, grants boons, rides a vulture, and carries arrows and a bow. Rahu is praised as fierce-faced, holding a sword, shield, and trident, bestowing boons, and seated upon a blue lion throne. Ketu figures are smoky in color, two-armed, bearing maces, their faces distorted, always seated on a vulture throne, and granting boons. All the planets are to be shown crowned, beneficent to the world, each raised by their own finger, and always in one hundred and eight forms. There came a moment when a devotee addressed the Lord, saying, “O Lord, Master of past and future, please tell again, in full, all that has been heard which leads to enjoyment and liberation.” Thus addressed, Shambhu—the master of speech—replied, “O Brahman, by my penance and the vastness of the Purāṇas and Vedas, I shall speak. This Dharma, in the form of a bull, is Nandi, the chief of the Gaṇas; from him I shall declare the Śaiva observances, O Nārada.” Having spoken thus, the Lord of the gods disappeared, and Nārada, eager to learn, approached Nandikeśvara as instructed by Śiva, asking, “Tell me here the Śaiva observance.” Nandikeśvara replied, “Listen attentively, O Brahman, as I describe the Śaiva observance, renowned in the three worlds as Śivacaturdaśī. On the bright thirteenth day of Mārgaśīrṣa, one should eat only once and offer prayers to the Lord of gods, declaring, ‘I have taken refuge in you.’ On the fourteenth day, one should fast, worship Śaṅkara with due reverence, give a golden bull in charity, and break the fast the following day. Observing this vow, after sleeping, one should rise early, bathe, recite prayers, and then, with Umā, worship Śaṅkara using pure lotuses, fragrant garlands, and ointments. At the feet, offer obeisance to Śiva; at the head, to the all-pervading one; at the eyes, to the three-eyed one; at the forehead, to Hara. Worship the face as ‘whose face is like the moon,’ the throat as Śrīkaṇṭha, the ears as Sadyojāta, and the arms as Vāmadeva. The heart is offered to Aghora’s heart, the breasts to Tatpuruṣa, and the abdomen to Īśāna. The sides are worshipped as Anantadharma, the waist as the embodiment of knowledge, and the thighs as the lion of endless detachment. The knees are saluted as the lord of infinite sovereignty, the shanks as the chief, and the ankles as the one whose essence is space. The hair and back are worshipped as the essence of space; salutations are offered to Puṣṭi and Tuṣṭi, and Pārvatī is also worshipped. A golden bull, adorned with a water pot, white garlands and garments, set with five jewels, and accompanied by various foods, should be offered to a brāhmaṇa. May the god of gods, Sadyojāta, the wielder of Pināka, be pleased. Then, pure brāhmaṇas should be invited and honored with devotion; one partakes of clarified butter and sleeps on the ground facing north. On the fifteenth day, after worshipping the brāhmaṇas, one should eat in silence. Likewise, on the Kṛṣṇa Caturdaśī, all these rites are to be performed. On every fourteenth day, the worship should be performed as before, but now hear the special observances for each month. Beginning with Mārgaśīrṣa, one should recite in order: ‘Salutations to Śaṃkara, salutations to Karavīraka; salutations to Tryambaka, salutations to the supreme Maheśvara; salutations to Mahādeva, and then to Sthāṇu; salutations to Paśupati, O Lord; salutations again to Śambhu; salutations to the supreme blissful one, salutations to the bearer of the crescent moon; salutations to Bhīma. Thus, I have taken refuge in you.’ Each month, one should ritually consume, in order, cow urine, cow dung, milk, curd, ghee, and water with kuśa grass—these five products of the cow—then bilva leaves, camphor, aguru, barley, and black sesame, one item on each Caturdaśī. For worship, flowers such as mandāra, mālatī, dhattūra, sinduvāra, aśoka, mallikā, pāṭala, arka, kadamba, śatapatra, and lotus are offered to the Lord of Pārvatī on each Caturdaśī, using one kind each time. Thus, the sacred observances, the forms of the planets, and the powerful rites have been revealed—bestowing protection, merit, and the highest blessings upon those who follow with devotion.