When fever strikes, when epidemic or contagious diseases arise, when cow-pox or smallpox appears, or when troubling astrological events such as unfavorable birth-star conjunctions, planetary transits, or conjunctions in one’s own sign occur—these are all moments of unease. Likewise, evil dreams and similar omens are regarded as divine afflictions. Even the touch or entry into the house of a corpse, an outcaste, or a fallen person brings a sense of impurity and foreboding. Whenever such signs manifest, indicating impending sorrow, the wise know what must be done: a pacifying sacrifice should be performed to dispel these faults and restore harmony. This sacred rite may take place in a temple, a cowshed, a stupa, or even in the courtyard of a home—anywhere that is clean, raised, and beautifully decorated. To begin, only as much rice or grain as needed is placed and smoothed out. Upon this, a lotus is drawn at the center, and around it, a square is marked. A pot is wrapped with thread, purified with the fragrant smoke of fresh guggul, and placed at the center; similar pots are set at the four cardinal directions. Eight pots are filled with water that has been purified by mantra, along with five sacred substances, and stalks of mango and other auspicious plants are inserted. The nine gems, starting with sapphire, are arranged in order. A learned priest, together with his wife, is appointed to conduct the ritual. Golden images of Vishnu, Indra, and the other deities are placed with devotion. With bowed head, Vishnu is worshipped in the central pot, and outer worship is performed as well. Beginning with the east, Indra and the other deities are honored in their respective directions, with the appropriate mantras. At the conclusion, offerings are made in their names. Every act, from invocation onward, is performed by the teacher alone, who, with the officiating priests, recites the prescribed mantras. On the western side of the pot, after the recitation, a homa (fire offering) is performed—whether it be a crore, a hundred thousand, a thousand, a hundred, or one hundred and eight times, as is fitting. This may be done in a single day, over nine days, or even a mandala of forty days, depending on what is appropriate for the time and place. For peace, the wood of the śamī tree is used for the homa; for prosperity, palāśa wood. The offerings are made with fuel, rice, and clarified butter, accompanied by the proper names and mantras. Once the ritual has begun, it must be completed with the materials prepared. At the end, after reciting the auspicious invocation, the site is sprinkled with water. Afterwards, Brahmins are fed according to the number of offerings made, and the teacher and officiating priests, being learned, partake of the sacrificial food. At the conclusion of all offerings, the planets, beginning with the Sun, are worshipped, and gifts are given to the priests—food and jewels as appropriate. Then, ten gifts are made, and even greater gifts are given: to children, to those newly initiated, to householders, and to forest-dwellers. Thereafter, gifts are given to maidens, married women, and widows. All the implements used in the ritual are presented to the teacher. It is said that Yama, the lord of death, is the master of calamities and diseases; to please him, the gift called Kālada should be given. An image of Kāla, holding a noose and goad, in human form, is fashioned—either from a hundred or ten niṣkas of gold—and given as a gift, along with sesame seeds for the attainment of full longevity. Clarified butter is given to remove disease, and a thousand Brahmins are fed, or, if one is poor, at least a hundred. If even that is not possible, one should do as much as one can according to one’s means. The great worship of Bhairava is performed to pacify spirits and the directions. At the close, the great anointing and offering for Shiva is performed, and Brahmins are fed with abundant food. By performing the sacrifice in this way, faults are pacified. This peace-sacrifice should be performed every year in the month of Phālguna, and at the first sign of inauspiciousness, it should be done immediately, or at least within a month. If a great sin arises, Bhairava should be worshipped. If a great disease appears, one should renew one’s resolve. In every circumstance, if one is poor, at least a lamp should be offered. If even that is not possible, after bathing, one should give whatever little one can, and offer salutations to the Sun with the mantra one hundred and eight times. The wise may perform a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand, or even a crore salutations. By this sacrifice of salutations, all the deities are satisfied. When the mind is offered to the Lord’s form, it no longer delights in emptiness; the sense of “I am” dissolves upon seeing Him. In humility, one recognizes one’s own smallness before the greatness of the Lord; one’s nature is not empty, for now one is truly His servant. Worship and salutations should be offered to the Self as appropriate; then, having made the offering to Shiva, one takes the betel leaf. One should circumambulate Shiva oneself, one hundred and eight times; a thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand, or even a crore circumambulations may be performed by another on one’s behalf. By circumambulating Shiva, all sins are instantly destroyed, for the root of suffering is disease, and the root of disease is sin. The removal of sin is declared to come only through righteousness, and the righteousness performed for Shiva’s sake is capable of dispelling all sin. Circumambulation is said to be the overseer among the duties to Shiva; in practice, this act is indeed the recitation of the sacred syllable Om. Birth and death, the pair of opposites, are called the wheel of illusion, and the altar for offerings is said to be Shiva’s wheel of illusion. Beginning at the altar, one should enter step by step in the order of circumambulation, leaving a space between each step. Then, salutations are offered, which is itself a form of circumambulation; upon departing, birth is attained, and with salutations, the self is offered to the Lord.