Matsya Purana

Hear now the sacred narrative of divine forms and the observance that leads to liberation, as revealed in the ancient Purāṇa. The revered preceptors of both gods and demons are to be depicted with complexions of yellow and white. They possess four arms, in which they hold staffs, prayer beads, and water pots, and with one hand, they bestow boons upon devotees. Their images radiate wisdom and benevolence. Saturn, the son of the Sun, is to be shown with the deep blue luster of a sapphire. He holds a trident, bestows boons, and carries arrows and a bow. His vehicle is a mighty vulture, upon which he rides, inspiring both awe and reverence. Rahu, fierce and formidable, is praised as having a terrifying face. He is depicted holding a sword, shield, and trident, granting boons to those who seek his favor. He sits majestically upon a blue lion throne, embodying power and intensity. The figures of Ketu are always to be smoky in color, with two arms, each bearing a mace. Their faces are distorted, evoking a sense of mystery and awe. They are always seated upon a vulture throne and, like the others, bestow boons. All the planetary deities are to be adorned with crowns, beneficent to the world, each raised by their own finger in a gesture of blessing. Their number is always one hundred and eight, signifying completeness and auspiciousness. Turning now to the path of observance, the seeker humbly addresses the Lord: "O Master of past and future, please recount in full all that has been heard which leads to both 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." Shiva explained that Dharma, in the form of a bull, is Nandi, the chief of the Gaṇas. From Nandi, the Śaiva observances are to be declared. Having said this, the Lord of the gods disappeared, and Nārada, eager to learn, approached Nandikeśvara as instructed by Shiva, saying, "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 the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, one should eat only once, and pray to the Lord of gods, saying, 'I have taken refuge in you.'" "On the fourteenth day, fasting and having duly worshipped Śaṅkara, one should give a golden bull and eat only on the following day. Thus observing the vow, after sleeping, one should rise early, bathe, recite prayers, and then, together with Umā, worship Śaṅkara with pure lotuses, fragrant garlands, and ointments." "One should bow at the feet, saying 'Obeisance to Śiva'; at the head, 'Obeisance to the all-pervading one'; at the eyes, 'Obeisance to the three-eyed one'; and at the forehead, 'Obeisance to Hara.' The face is worshipped as 'whose face is like the moon,' the throat as 'to Śrīkaṇṭha,' the ears as 'to Sadyojāta,' and the arms as 'to Vāmadeva.'" "The heart is worshipped as 'to Aghora's heart,' the breasts as 'to Tatpuruṣa,' and the abdomen as 'to Īśāna.' The sides are worshipped as 'to Anantadharma,' the waist as 'to the embodiment of knowledge,' and the thighs as 'to the lion of endless detachment.' The knees are honored as 'to the lord of infinite sovereignty,' the shanks as 'to the chief,' and the ankles as 'to the one whose essence is space.' The hair and back are worshipped as 'to the one whose form is the essence of space.' Salutations are also offered to Puṣṭi and Tuṣṭi, and Pārvatī is worshipped as well." "Then, one should offer to a brāhmaṇa a golden bull furnished with a water pot, adorned with white garlands and garments, set with five jewels, and accompanied by various kinds of food. May the god of gods, Sadyojāta, wielder of Pināka, be pleased here. After inviting pure brāhmaṇas, one should satisfy them with devotion, partake of the clarified butter, and sleep on the ground facing north." "On the fifteenth day, having worshipped the brāhmaṇas, one should eat, observing silence. Likewise, on the Kṛṣṇa Caturdaśī, all this should be performed. On all the fourteenth days, one should perform the worship as before, but now listen to the special observances for each month." "In the months 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." "On each Caturdaśī, 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. Each month, one such offering is prescribed." "With mandāra and mālatī flowers, and also with dhattūra, sinduvāra, aśoka, mallikā, and pāṭala flowers, as well as arka flowers, kadamba, śatapatra, and lotus, one should worship the Lord of Pārvatī on each Caturdaśī with one of each." "When the month of Kārttika arrives, one should satisfy the brāhmaṇas with various kinds of food, delicacies, garments, garlands, and ornaments. Having performed the offering of a blue bull according to the injunctions of the scriptures, a man should offer a golden bull with cows to Umā and Maheśvara." "One should give a bed adorned with eight pearls, covered with a white cloth for the eyes, furnished with all accessories, together with a water jar. Upon a copper vessel, place rice grains, and offer it to a peaceful Brahmin devoted to Vedic vows. It should be given to one who knows the Jyeṣṭha Sāma, or to one newly initiated in vows, or sometimes to one skilled in virtues, to a Śrotriya, or to a teacher who knows the truth—one whose limbs are whole, gentle, always engaged in ritual, with his wife, after honoring him with garments, garlands, and ornaments. If the teacher is present, it should be given to the teacher; if not, to a twice-born. One should not act with deceit regarding wealth, for acting wrongly leads to downfall." "Whoever performs the Śiva Caturdaśī with this procedure attains the fruit of a thousand horse sacrifices. Whatever sin, such as killing a Brahmin, has been committed here or elsewhere by ancestors or brothers, all that is destroyed." "Long life, health, family prosperity, inexhaustible food, and after this life, a four-armed form, lordship over the Gaṇas, and, after dwelling in heaven for hundreds of kalpa cycles, one attains the abode of Śambhu." Thus is revealed the sacred observance, shining as a path to liberation and supreme blessedness.