Then, with devotion and care, one should bathe the deity using a pot, a conch, a vessel meant for increase, or even the hand, accompanied by kuśa grass and fresh flowers. As the water flows, sacred mantras are to be recited, invoking purity and auspiciousness. The bathing is performed with the chanting of the Pavamāna hymns, the Rudra hymns, Nīla and Tvarita hymns, the Liṅga Sūkta and other praises, including the revered Atharvaśiras. Verses from the Ṛg Veda, Sāma Veda, and the five Śaiva Brahman hymns are included, along with the Praṇava of Śiva, all offered in reverence as the Lord of gods is bathed. Just as these bathing and worship rites are performed for the god, so too should they be done for the goddess, for there is no difference between them—they are one in essence. However, it is prescribed that the bathing and rites be performed first for the god, then for the goddess, according to the command of the Lord of gods. When worshiping Ardhanārīśvara, who is both Śiva and Śakti in one form, there is no precedence—offerings may be made to the liṅga or elsewhere, as appropriate. Having completed the abhiṣeka of the liṅga with pure and fragrant substances, the liṅga is gently dried with a cloth, and then adorned with a garment and a sacred thread. Water is offered for washing the feet, for sipping, arghya for honor, fragrance, flowers, ornaments, incense, a lamp, food, drinking water, and substances for cleansing the mouth. Again, water is offered for sipping, followed by mouth perfume, and then a beautiful, auspicious crown, adorned with every kind of jewel, is placed. Pure ornaments, garlands of various kinds, fans, yak-tail whisks, an umbrella, a palm-leaf fan, and a mirror are also offered in worship. After the light is offered, the ritual continues accompanied by all auspicious sounds—singing, dancing, and joyful cries of victory. In a vessel of gold, silver, copper, or auspicious clay, decorated with lotuses, beautiful flowers, seeds, curds, and unbroken rice, many auspicious symbols are drawn: tridents, pairs of conch shells, lotuses, nandyāvarta designs, marks of cow dung, Śrīvatsa, svastika, mirrors, vajra, fire, and other sacred signs. Eight lamps are placed all around and one in the center. The goddesses are contemplated beginning from the left, and the nine Śaktis are worshipped. The vessel is covered with a protective mantra and guarded on all sides with weapons, while the cow mudrā is shown with both hands before lifting the vessel. Alternatively, five lamps may be placed in order, or one lamp in each direction and the center, or even a single lamp alone. Then, taking up the vessel, one should circle it three times around the liṅga or other image, reciting the root mantra. Afterwards, arghya is offered on the head, followed by fragrant ash. Flowers are placed in the hands and the food offering is presented. Water is then offered, and after providing water for rinsing the mouth, betel leaves with five kinds of fragrance are presented. Sprinkling is performed as needed, singing and dancing are arranged, and meditation is performed on Śiva and others at the liṅga, with the Śakti mantra recited silently within. The devotee then circumambulates, prostrates, offers praise, makes self-offering, and humbly presents any requests, all with deep reverence. After offering arghya and a handful of flowers, and forming the prescribed mudrā, forgiveness is sought from the deity, and the devotee meditates upon him within the heart. If circumstances make it difficult to perform the full ritual, one may simply offer flowers, or perform the essential rites from pādya (water for the feet) to mouth fragrance and arghya, but always with devotion. Even so, devotion fulfills the supreme dharma. Without worship, one should not eat, except in the case of imminent death. If a sinner eats freely without worship, there is no expiation for him; but if one eats by mistake, he should make every effort to expel it. After bathing, one should worship the deity with double the usual devotion, fast along with the goddess, and undertake a ten-thousand-fold worship of Śiva, preceded by celibacy. On the following day, according to one’s ability, gold or other gifts should be given to Śiva or a devotee of Śiva, a great worship performed, and thus one becomes purified. Now, regarding items not yet mentioned in worship, such as the use of lotuses and others, a brief explanation is given, though not in detail. Before offering the oblation and after giving the lamp, one should perform the worship of the enclosures, either at the time of waving lights or as required. In the first enclosure, mantras are recited from Īśāna to Sadyānta, and from Rudra to Astrānta, or for Śiva and Śivā. In each direction—northeast, east, south, north, west, southeast, northeast, and southwest—the appropriate worship is performed. In the northwest, again in the northeast, and in all four directions, the innermost enclosure is declared, or the collection of mantras is recited. From the heart mantra up to the weapon mantra, worship is performed; outside that, to the east, Indra is worshipped, and to the south, Yama. Varuṇa is honored in the west, Kubera in the north, Budha in the northeast, Agni in his own place, and Nirṛti in the southwest. In the northwest, Vāyu is worshipped; in the northeast, Viṣṇu; in the southwest, the prescribed Īśvara. Outside the lotus, Vajra and other weapons up to the end of the lotus are also worshipped. In this way, the well-known forms of the guardians of the directions are worshipped in order, along with all the deities of the enclosures, with hands joined in reverence. All the deities of the enclosures are to be addressed by their own names with salutations. Worship is performed with flowers, bowing to all in order; the innermost enclosure is also worshipped, or one’s own enclosure. In yoga, meditation, recitation, and fire-offering, whether external or internal, the oblation should be of six kinds, pure and made of mung beans. Rice cooked with milk and curd, sweetened with jaggery and honey—any one or many of these, mixed with various ingredients—are offered, completing the ritual with devotion and faith.