In the sacred tradition, it is taught that on Wednesdays marked by the star Kṛttikā, those who worship Lord Viṣṇu and offer curd-rice are blessed with good progeny. On Thursdays during Kṛttikā, worshipping Brahmā and giving honey, gold, and ghee brings increased enjoyment to people’s lives. The simple acts of giving fragrance, flowers, and nourishing food further enhance one’s happiness and fulfillment. For a woman longing for a child, the gift of gold, silver, and similar offerings is said to grant a worthy son. On Kṛttikā Saturdays, it is prescribed to worship the guardians of the directions, as well as the elephants and serpents who preside over the quarters, the sacred bridges, and the deities Tryambaka, Rudra, and Viṣṇu—the removers of sin. Worshipping Brahmā, the bestower of knowledge, along with Dhanvantari and the twin Aśvins, is believed to dispel disease, ward off untimely death, and calm sudden illnesses. By offering salt, iron, oil, black gram, three pungent fruits, fragrances, and water in due measure, and by giving both liquids and solids appropriately, one attains the joys of heaven. Especially in the auspicious month of Mārgaśīrṣa, worship at dawn is prescribed. Honoring Śiva and all the other deities in their proper order during this time grants all accomplishments, and rice and havis food are considered the finest offerings. In Mārgaśīrṣa, the giving of various kinds of food is especially praised, and such generosity yields all that one desires: the removal of sin, success in actions, health, righteousness, proper understanding and practice of the Veda. Here and hereafter, such offerings bring great enjoyment, eternal union, and at the end of the Vedic path, the attainment of knowledge. The offering of rice in Mārgaśīrṣa is especially potent, granting these blessings. At dawn during Mārgaśīrṣa, worship should be performed for three days or more by those seeking enjoyment, and one should not delay in these observances. As long as the conjunction of the months lasts, the month of Dhanur is prescribed for special observances. In Dhanur, one should undertake a month-long fast, mastering the senses. For Brāhmaṇas, the midday recitation of the Gāyatrī—the mother of the Veda—is essential, followed by mantras beginning with the five-syllabled and extending to the seven-syllabled. Through such practice, when knowledge is attained, liberation comes at the end of life for the Brāhmaṇa; for others, thrice bathing and recitation bring blessings. Constant recitation of the five-syllabled mantra leads to pure knowledge, and by always reciting the desired mantras, even great sins are removed. In Dhanur month, a special great offering is to be prepared: a measure of rice, a prastha of black pepper, twelve of each item, a kuḍava of honey and ghee, a droṇa of lentils, and twelve varieties of vegetables. There should be cakes cooked in ghee, sweets, rice, and similar items—twelve kinds each—along with twelve prasthas of curd and milk. Coconut fruits and others, counted as twelve, are included, together with twelve betel nuts and thirty-six leaves. Camphor, cardamom powder, and five aromatic substances, with betel leaf, complete the marks of this great offering. This great offering, properly dedicated to the deity, should be distributed to devotees according to their caste. From such offerings of cooked food, one becomes a ruler of the land; by giving the great offering, one attains heaven. Giving a thousand great offerings grants the twice-born a full lifespan in the world of truth and beyond. Thirty thousand such offerings lead to the higher world and freedom from rebirth. Of thirty-six thousand, the offering for birth is declared—the fullness of offerings is reached with this number, and until it is given, the journey is not complete. The offering of the great fullness is considered the birth offering, and by giving it, one is freed from rebirth. In the auspicious month of Urja, on a holy day—especially if it coincides with a solstice, equinox, birth star, full moon, or similar sacred occasion—one should perform the birth offering. Each year, on the anniversary of one’s birth, the supreme birth offering should be made, and in other months, on the day when the birth star and full moon coincide, as well. At gatherings, during meals, or at the sowing of seeds, the birth offering should be performed a thousand times. By dedicating one’s birth in this way, one attains the fruit of offering one’s very existence, pleasing Lord Shiva, who then grants union with himself. This birth offering is to be presented only to Shiva, for he, in the form of the yoni and linga, is the determiner of birth. Therefore, worship of Shiva’s birth is prescribed as the means to liberation from the cycle of birth. All the world, moving and unmoving, is composed of bindu and nada—bindu is Shakti, nada is Shiva, and the universe itself is the union of Shiva and Shakti. Bindu supports nada, and nada supports bindu; upon these two, the whole world is established. All that is endowed with bindu and nada becomes manifest, and from this manifestation, the world is born—there is no doubt. The linga, composed of bindu and nada, is said to be the cause of the world; bindu is Devi, nada is Shiva, and thus the Shiva-linga is described. Therefore, to attain release from birth, one should worship the Shiva-linga, for the mother, Devi, is of the form of bindu, and the father, Shiva, is of the form of nada. When both parents are worshipped, supreme bliss is attained, and for this supreme bliss, one should worship the Shiva-linga. Devi is the mother of all worlds, and Shiva is the father of the universe. By always serving both parents, compassion increases greatly, and one draws near to the highest realization.