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.
मस्तके धारणं मुख्यं ब्रह्मणा च तथा कृतम् । विन्यस्य मुकुटस्यांते धारणं शुभमुच्यते
The chief placement is on the head, as done by Brahma; placing it at the end of the crown is considered auspicious.
ललाटे धारणं शस्तं यथा लक्ष्म्या धृतं शुभम् । बाणेन च धृतं मूर्ध्नि दक्षिणोरसि वा पुनः
Placement on the forehead is praised, as Lakshmi holds it auspiciously; and as Bāṇa holds it on the head or again on the right chest.
कर्णे च हरकर्णेन मुनिना परमर्षिणा । विनिर्भिद्य तथा गात्रं लोहस्थानं प्रकल्प्य च
On the ear, as worn by Hari's ear, by the sage and supreme seer; piercing the body likewise, and establishing a place of metal.
धारयंति तथा लिंगं राक्षसाः केचिदुत्तमाः । अनिकेतन मर्त्यानामशक्तानां शिरोधृतिः
Thus, some distinguished rākṣasas wear the liṅga; for homeless mortals and the powerless, wearing it on the head.
अधमाधममाख्यातं नीवीबंधादिधारणम् । तेषु तूच्छिष्टसंप्राप्तौ मस्तके धारणं भवेत्
The lowest of the low is said to be wearing it tied at the waist and similar places; for them, upon receiving remnants, it should be worn on the head.
अधमाधमवृत्तीनां सदा वै लिंगधारणम् । पापिनामपि चाश्चर्यं यमलोके न विद्यते
For those of the lowest conduct, always wearing the liṅga; even for sinners, it is remarkable that in Yama's realm it is not found.
श्रीराम उवाच- चित्रगुप्तेन लिखिता ललाटे या लिपिर्दृढा । तया तु लिप्या नियतं नरकं कथमन्यथा
Śrī Rāma said: The script written by Citragupta, firm on the forehead—by that script, how can hell be avoided?
करोति पूजनं शंभोः पापं नाशयते कथम् । शंभुरुवाच- पापं नाशयते कृत्स्नमपि जन्मशतार्जितम्
How does worship of Śambhu destroy sin? Śambhu said: It destroys all sin, even that accumulated over hundreds of births.
भर्त्सनात्सर्वपापानां स्मरणाच्च महेशितुः । भस्मेति पदमाख्यातं तस्य धारणमुत्तमम्
By rebuke of all sins and remembrance of the great Lord, the word 'bhasma' is declared; its wearing is supreme.
यथाविधि ललाटे वै वह्निवीर्यप्रधारणात् । नाशयेल्लिखितां यामीं पटस्थामिव हव्यभुक्
As prescribed, placing it on the forehead with the power of fire, destroys the written Yama-script, as the fire consumes the cloth.
कर्णोपरिकृतं पापं नष्टं स्यान्मुखधारणे । कंठे च धारणात्कंठभोगादिकृतपातकम्
Sin committed near the ear is destroyed by wearing it on the face; and by wearing it on the neck, sin arising from the enjoyment of the throat is removed.
बाह्वोर्बाहुकृतं पापं वक्षसि मनसा कृतम् । नाभ्यां शिश्नकृतं पापं पृष्ठे गुदकृतं तथा
Sin committed by the arms is removed by wearing it on the arms; sin committed by the mind is removed by wearing it on the chest; sin committed by the genitals is removed by wearing it on the navel, and sin committed by the anus is removed by wearing it on the back.
पार्श्वयोर्धारणाद्राम परस्त्र्यालिंगनादिजम् । तद्भस्मधारणं शस्तं सर्वत्रैव त्रिपुंड्रकम्
By wearing it on the sides, sin arising from embracing another's wife and similar acts is destroyed; thus, the wearing of the tripuṇḍra of ash is praised everywhere.
ब्रह्मविष्णुमहेशानां त्रय्यग्नीनां च धारणम् । गुप्त्यै लोकत्रयाणां च धारणं तेन वै कृतम्
The wearing of it is for the protection of the three worlds, as it is associated with Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Maheśa, and the three sacred fires.
धृतं पंचदशस्थाने शुद्धं भस्माभिमंत्रितम् । कोष्ठयुग्मे बाहुयुग्मे कोष्ठोपरि युगे तथा
When consecrated ash, properly empowered with mantras, is worn in fifteen places—on both sides of the abdomen, both arms, and above the abdomen, among others—it is pure.
धारणं सर्वदेहानां पूजायै धर्मसंमतम् । भस्माशना भस्मशय्या भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः
The wearing of ash on the whole body is considered proper for worship according to dharma; eating ash, sleeping on ash, and having the body dusted with ash are also approved.
भस्मस्नानाः सदापापैर्मुच्यंते नात्र संशयः । आदौ ब्राह्मणदीक्षायां त्रियायुषमिति स्मृतम्
Those who bathe in ash are always freed from sins—there is no doubt of this; at the beginning of the initiation of a brāhmaṇa, it is said to grant a threefold lifespan.
प्रसवे च मनुष्याणां भूतावेशेऽपि रक्षकम् । सर्पादिविषहान्यर्थं सर्वेषां साधनं त्विदम्
It is a protector at the birth of humans and even during possession by spirits; it is a means for all to counteract poison from snakes and the like.
अपि वा वैष्णवो मर्त्य अथवापीतरो जनः । भस्मस्नायी भस्मयुक्तः कर्मस्वधिकरोति वै
Whether a person is a Vaiṣṇava or of another lineage, one who bathes in ash and is adorned with ash is indeed entitled to perform rituals.
श्रीराम उवाच- भस्ममाहात्म्यमादौ मे भस्मायुष्यं हि कस्य वै । कथं हि रक्षते ह्येतत्सर्वमेतद्वदस्व मे
Śrī Rāma said: In the beginning, tell me about the greatness of ash—whose lifespan does it extend, and how does it protect everything? Please explain all this to me.