तृतीयघटिकायां तु शिवपूजां समाचरेत् । कुबेरसम तेजस्वी शिवलोके महीयते
If one performs Śiva worship at the third ghaṭikā, he shines with the brilliance of Kubera and is honored in the realm of Śiva.
तृतीयघटिकायां तु शिवपूजां समाचरेत् । कुबेरसम तेजस्वी शिवलोके महीयते
If one performs Śiva worship at the third ghaṭikā, he shines with the brilliance of Kubera and is honored in the realm of Śiva.
चतुर्थीपंचमीषष्ठीसप्तमी घटिकासु यः । शिवं पूजयते भक्त्या शिवलोके मरुत्समः
Whoever worships Śiva with devotion during the fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh ghaṭikā is like the Maruts in the realm of Śiva.
तत्काल एव क्रियते पूजा यत्कालनोदिता । यथा प्रतिज्ञमथवा गृहीत नियमो यजेत्
At whatever time the worship is performed, as indicated by the time, one should worship according to one's vow or as previously undertaken.
उपचारेषु शक्त्या वै नियमं परिपालयेत् । नियमातिक्रमे वापि यागश्च स्याद्विभोर्यदि
One should observe discipline to the best of one's ability in the offerings; even if discipline is transgressed, if the worship is for the Lord, it is still valid.
श्रीराम उवाच- क्व पूजा देवदेवस्य शंकरस्यामितौजसः । स्मरणात्पापनाशस्य स्मरणान्मोक्षदस्य च
Śrī Rāma said: Where is the worship of the god of gods, Śaṅkara of boundless energy, who destroys sin by remembrance and grants liberation by remembrance?
शिवस्य शिवरूपस्य शिवतत्त्वार्थवेदिनः । सोमस्य सोमभूषस्य सोमनेत्रस्य राजितुः
Of Śiva, who is auspicious in form, who knows the essence of auspiciousness, who is Soma, adorned with the moon, whose eye is the moon, who is the sovereign.
वेदमूर्तेरमूर्तेश्च वेदसारस्य वेदिनः । वेदवेदांगवित्तस्य वेद्यावेद्यस्य योगिनः
Of the embodiment of the Vedas, the Lord beyond form, the knower of the essence of the Vedas, who knows the Vedas and their limbs, the knowable and the knower, the yogin.
गोक्षीरसमदेहस्य गोक्षीरस्नानमोदिनः । गोपालिनस्त्रिनेत्रस्य त्रयीनेत्रस्य मायिनः
Of him whose body is like cow's milk, who delights in bathing with cow's milk, the protector of cows, the three-eyed one, the seer of the three Vedas, the master of illusion.
प्रश्नमध्ये तथा रामं शिवज्ञानमथादिशत् । स्थाणुभूतइवासीनो नासाग्रन्यस्तलोचनः
In the midst of the question, he instructed Rāma in the knowledge of Śiva; remaining motionless, with his gaze fixed at the tip of his nose.
आनंदनिष्यंदविलोचनाश्रु प्रवाहसंस्पृष्टकपोलदेशः । दधार देवं गिरिशं हृदंबुजे गोक्षीरसुस्निग्धसुचारुगात्रम्
Tears of bliss flowed from his eyes, touching his cheeks; he beheld the Lord of mountains, beautiful and radiant as fresh cow's milk, within the lotus of his heart.
प्रतिबिंबमथो गात्रे रामस्य समदृश्यत । दृष्ट्वैव बिंबितं शंभुं चतुर्बाहुं त्रिलोचनम्
Then, a reflection appeared on Rāma's body; seeing the reflected image of Śaṃbhu, four-armed and three-eyed.
विस्मयं परमं याताः सर्वे मुनिहरीश्वराः । शंभोर्वक्षःस्थितं रामं दृष्ट्वा दीप्ताकृतिं शुभम्
All the sages and monkey-lords were filled with supreme wonder, seeing Rāma, shining and auspicious, abiding in Śaṃbhu's chest.
तूष्णीं बभूवुर्यामार्द्धमथ राममुदैक्षत । स्वप्रश्नमनुसंधाय प्राह सर्वं वदेति च
They remained silent for half a yāma, then gazed at Rāma; recalling their own question, they said, 'Tell us everything.'
शंभुरुवाच- अचले या सदा पूजा चले वापि यथेच्छया । लिंगसंपूजनं मुख्यमलाभे प्रतिमादिषु
Śaṃbhu said: Whether the worship is always fixed or performed as one wishes, the worship of the liṅga is primary; if that is not possible, then in images and the like.
अधिकारविशेषेण तत्रतत्रापि पूजनम् । विगुणं सगुणं वापि सफलं लिंगपूजनम्
According to one's capacity, worship is to be performed in each case; whether with attributes or without, the worship of the liṅga bears fruit.
प्रतिमादिकृतापूजा विगुणा सफला नहि । अचले वा चले वापि पूजा लिंगे प्रशस्यते
Worship performed with images and the like, even if lacking in qualities, does not bear fruit; whether fixed or movable, worship of the liṅga is praised.
चलस्य पूजनं वक्ष्ये स्थापनोद्वासने तथा । ते उभेन विजानाति कश्चिन्मुनिरपि क्वचित्
I will explain the worship of the movable, as well as the installation and removal; sometimes even a sage knows both.
स्थापयंति हृदब्जे वै गोपयंति यजंति च । उद्वासयंति देवेशं शंकरं योगिनः सदा
Yogins always install in the lotus of the heart, conceal, worship, and dismiss the Lord of gods, Śaṃkara.
क्रिया चातीव होतॄणां वह्नौ देवं त्रियंबकम् । पूजकानामशेषाणां शिवलिंगे महेश्वरम्
For the priests, the act is to offer the three-eyed god into the fire; for all worshippers, it is to worship Maheśvara in the liṅga.
लिंगस्य स्थापनं पूजा उद्वासनमथैव च । धारणं शंकरस्यैव लिंगमेव महेश्वरम्
The installation, worship, and removal of the liṅga, and the bearing of Śaṃkara's liṅga itself, is Maheśvara.
सज्जिकं परमोत्कृष्टं स्वर्णं चैव विनिर्मितम् । राजतैर्वा दलैः कार्यं राजतैर्वैणवैस्तु यत्
The best is one properly prepared, or one made of gold; or it may be made with silver leaves, or by those devoted to silver.
लतासूत्रैरथो वापि रचितं दारुणाथवा । वस्त्रेण वाथ रचितं मृदाविरचितं भवेत्
It may be fashioned with creeper threads, or else from wood, or made with cloth, or even shaped from clay.
तत्र संवेष्ट्य वस्त्रेण सुगंधेन समन्विते । धौतवस्त्रयुगे शुद्धे मृद्वासन समन्विते
There, wrapping it with fragrant cloth, with a pair of washed, pure cloths, and with a soft seat of clay.
शीतोष्णरहिते पादचतुष्टयसमन्विते । प्रावृतिच्छेदनोपेते क्रिमिकीटविवर्जिते
Free from cold and heat, furnished with four feet, equipped with coverings for the rainy season, and devoid of insects and worms.
धौतेन मृदुवस्त्रेण सर्वतो वेष्ट्य तं शिवम् । विन्यस्य सज्जिकामध्ये प्रावृत्य च पुनर्विभुम्
Wrap that auspicious object entirely with a washed, soft cloth, place it in the center of the altar, and cover it again, O Lord.
एषा हि सज्जिका राम देवस्याग्रेति कीर्तिता । तस्य च स्थापनं पाठो रहस्ये च महेशितुः
This altar, O Rama, is proclaimed to be before the deity; its installation and recitation are to be performed in secret for the great Lord.
अथवा भित्तिमूले स्याद्देववेद्यामथापि वा । सुरक्षिते तथा देशे रक्षकं च नियोजयेत्
Alternatively, it may be at the base of a wall, or in a place dedicated to the gods, or in a secure location; one should appoint a guardian there.
प्राणादेरविनाभावं कुर्वीत नियमैः सह । एतद्धि राजसं प्रोक्तं स्थापनं परमात्मनः
One should ensure it is inseparable from vital energies, along with observances; this installation of the Supreme Soul is declared to be royal.
सात्विकं स्वसमीपस्थं धारणं तामसं पुनः । धारणं गात्रसंस्पर्शमशेषदेहगोपनम्
The sattvic form is kept nearby; the tamasic form, again, is worn on the body, covering the entire body.