With a heart filled with devotion, one should worship the divine Lord and Lady, offering them external gifts as an expression of reverence. This worship may be directed toward the liṅga, or even an image fashioned by human hands, for the form itself is not the essence—the devotion is. According to one’s means and inner feeling, the Supreme Lord may be worshipped in the sacred fire, upon the sacrificial altar, or both inwardly and outwardly. If one’s heart is set primarily on internal worship, the external acts may be performed or omitted, as the spirit moves. Now, let me briefly reveal the method of worship as Lord Shiva himself once instructed the goddess, as recorded in the scripture of Shiva. The internal worship, extending up to the completion of the fire ritual, may be performed or not; but thereafter, one should undertake the external acts of worship. Begin by mentally conceiving and purifying all offerings. Meditate first on the god Vinayaka, honoring him in the prescribed way. To the right and left, worship Nandi and Suyaśa, visualizing them with the mind’s eye. Once these attendants are duly honored, arrange the sacred seat for worship. Seated firmly, whether in the lion posture or the pure lotus posture, and accompanied by the three principles of right conduct, right knowledge, and right meditation, one should begin. Upon this seat, meditate on Shiva with his divine consort, both supremely enchanting and adorned with every auspicious mark, their beauty radiant in every limb. See Shiva, resplendent with all virtues and ornaments, his mouth, hands, and feet tinged with red, his face smiling gently like jasmine and the moon. His form shines like pure crystal, his three eyes blossoming like lotuses, four arms noble and strong, a crescent moon gracing his brow. His hands grant boons and dispel fear, and he bears the mark of the antelope. Serpent garlands and bracelets adorn him, and his lovely throat is blue as the night sky. None is his equal. He is surrounded by his attendants and retinue. At his left, contemplate the great goddess. Her eyes are wide and long, like petals of a fully opened blue lotus. Her face is luminous as the full moon, framed by dark, curly hair. Her form is as lovely as blue lotus petals, a crescent moon crowning her. Her breasts are full, firm, and shining, her waist slender, hips broad, and she is clad in fine yellow garments, adorned with all ornaments, a shining mark on her forehead. Her hair is beautifully arranged and decorated with many flowers, her form harmonious, her face touched with modesty. In her right hand, she holds a shining golden lotus; in the other, she rests a staff, seated upon a great throne. She also bears a noose-cutter, manifesting the essence of existence, consciousness, and bliss. Having thus meditated on the god and goddess upon their auspicious seat, offer them all gifts and devotion, presenting the flowers of the mind. If one wishes, one may imagine the Lord in any other divine form, such as Śivī, Sadāśiva, the supreme Māheśvarī, Ṣaḍviṃśakā, or Śrīkaṇṭha. After performing the installation of mantras and similar rites upon one’s own body, contemplate the embodied Shiva, who is beyond being and non-being. With this meditation complete, proceed to the external worship, holding the vision in the mind. Next, within the navel, envision the fire ritual, with its kindling, ghee, and offerings. Meditate on Shiva between the eyebrows, as a pure flame of light—whether in the body or outside, in auspicious meditation or in yoga. At the conclusion of the fire ritual, let these rules guide all further actions. Having completed the entire sequence of mental worship, one should then worship the Lord in the liṅga, or on the altar, or even in the sacred fire. To prepare the place of worship, sprinkle it with water empowered by the root mantra for purification. Place a flower there, using water scented with sandalwood. With a weapon gesture, drive away all obstacles and cover the space with a shield of spiritual armor. Cast the weapon’s power in all directions, sanctifying the area. Spread darbha grass and cleanse the space with water and other rites. Purify all vessels and ensure that all materials are spotless. Arrange the four essential vessels: for sprinkling, for washing the feet, for sipping water, and the vessel for offerings. After washing and inspecting, pour auspicious water into each, and set out all sacred materials available: gems, silver, gold, fragrant substances, flowers, rice grains, fruits, shoots, and blades of darbha grass. In the water for bathing and especially for drinking, place cool and pleasing items—flowers and the like. In the water for washing feet, add vetiver and sandalwood, jasmine, kola, camphor, bahumūla, and tamāla. In the sipping vessel, grind and add cardamom, camphor, and sandalwood. In the offering vessel, place blades of kuśa grass, rice grains, barley, sesame, clarified butter, mustard seeds, flowers, and ashes. In the sprinkling vessel, add kuśa flowers, barley, bahumūla, tamāla, and ashes in proper sequence. In every place, establish the mantra, encase it with spiritual armor, protect it with the weapon gesture, and display the gesture of the cow as a sign of nourishment and protection. Sprinkle all worship materials with water from the sprinkling vessel, purify them with the root mantra, and perform each rite properly. If only one sprinkling vessel is at hand, the best practitioner should use it for all actions, as tradition allows. Now, begin the worship by honoring Vināyaka with food and offerings, in proper order, at the southern side of the entrance, thus preparing the way for the divine presence.