Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

अलं यागसहस्रेणाप्यलं यागार्बुदैरपि भक्षिते शिवनैवेद्ये शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

A thousand sacrifices, or even hundreds of millions of sacrifices, are not equal to eating Śiva's offering; by doing so, one attains union with Śiva.

यद्गृहेशिवनैवेद्यप्रचारोपिप्रजायते तद्गृहंपावनंसर्वमन्यपावनकारणम्

Wherever the distribution of Śiva's offering takes place in a house, that house becomes entirely pure and the cause of purification for others.

आगतं शिवनैवेद्यं गृहीत्वा शिरसामुदा भक्षणीयंप्रयत्ने न शिवस्मरणपूर्वकम्

When Śiva's offering arrives, it should be received with the head bowed and eaten with care, always with remembrance of Śiva.

आगतं शिवनैवेद्यमन्यदा ग्राह्यमित्यपि विलंबेपापसंबंधोभवत्येव हि मानवे

If Śiva's offering arrives at another time, it is also acceptable; but if delayed, it becomes associated with sin for a person.

न यस्य शिवनैवेद्यग्रहणेच्छाप्रजायते सपापिष्ठोगरिष्ठःस्यान्नरकंयात्यपिध्रुवम्

One who does not develop the desire to receive Śiva's offering becomes the most sinful and certainly goes to hell.

हृदये चन्द्रकान्ते च स्वर्णरूप्यादिनिर्मिते शिवदीक्षावताभक्तेनेदंभक्ष्यमितीर्यते

If it is in the heart, or in a vessel made of crystal, gold, or silver, for one initiated into Śiva, it is said to be fit for eating.

शिवदीक्षान्वितोभक्तो महाप्रसादसंज्ञकम् सर्वेषामपि लिंगानां नैवेद्यं भक्षयेच्छुभम्

A devotee endowed with Śiva's initiation may eat the offering called mahāprasāda from all liṅgas, and it is auspicious.

अन्यदीक्षायुजांन्ःणांशिवभक्तिरतात्मनाम् शृणुध्वंनिर्णयंप्रीत्याशिवनैवेद्यभक्षणे

Now hear, with joy, the decision regarding the eating of Śiva's offering by those who are not initiated into Śiva but are devoted to him.

शालग्रामोद्भवे लिंगे रसलिंगेतथा द्विजाः पाषाणे राजतेस्वर्णेसुरसिद्धप्रतिष्ठिते

In a liṅga born of śālagrāma, in a liquid liṅga, O twice-born, in a stone, in silver, in gold, or in one established by gods or siddhas—

काश्मीरे स्फाटिकेरात्ने ज्योतिर्लिंगेषु सर्वशः चान्द्रायणसमं प्रोक्तं शंभोर्नैवेद्यभक्षणम्

In Kashmir, among the crystal gems and all the jyotirlingas, the consumption of Shiva's offering is declared to be equal to the merit of a Chandrayana vow.

ब्रह्महापि शुचिर्भूत्वा निर्माल्यंयस्तुधारयेत् भक्षयित्वाद्रुतंतस्यसर्वपापं प्रणश्यति

Even a slayer of Brahman, once purified, who wears the discarded flowers, after consuming the ghee, all his sins are destroyed.

चंडाधिकारोयत्रास्तितद्भाक्तव्यंनमानवैः चंडाधिकारोनोयत्रभोक्तव्यंतच्चभक्तितः

Where the Chandadhikara is present, only he may partake; where the Chandadhikara is absent, it may be eaten with devotion by others.

बाणलिंगेचलौहेचसिद्धेलिंगेस्वयंभुवि प्रतिमासुचसर्वासुनचंडोधिकृतोभवेत्

In the Bana-linga, iron linga, Siddha-linga, and self-manifested linga, and in all images, the Chandadhikara does not apply.

स्नापयित्वाविधानेनयोलिंगस्नापनोदकम् त्रिःपिबेत्त्रिविधंपापंतस्येहाशु विनश्यति

After bathing the linga according to the rite, one who drinks the water used for bathing it three times, all three kinds of sins are quickly destroyed here.

अग्राह्यंशिवनैवेद्यं पत्रंपुष्पंफलंजलम् शालग्रामशिलासंगात्सर्वं याति पवित्रिताम्

Shiva's offering, leaves, flowers, fruits, and water are not to be accepted; but by contact with the Shalagrama stone, all become purified.

लोंगोपरि च यद्द्रव्यंतदग्राह्यं मुनीश्वराः सुपवित्रं च तज्ज्ञेयं यल्लिंगस्पर्शबाह्यतः

Whatever substance is upon the linga is not to be accepted, O great sages; but know that whatever is outside the touch of the linga is supremely pure.

नैवेद्यनिर्णयःप्रोक्त इत्थंवोमुनिसत्तमाः शृणुध्वं बिल्वमाहात्म्यं सावधानतया ऽदरात्

Thus the determination regarding offerings has been stated, O best of sages; now listen attentively to the greatness of the bilva tree.

महादेवस्वरूपोयं बिल्वोदेवैरपिस्तुतिः यथाकथंचिदेतस्यमहिमाज्ञायतेकथम्

This bilva is the very form of Mahadeva, praised even by the gods; however one comes to know its greatness, that is sufficient.

पुण्यतीर्थानियावंतिलोकेषुप्रथितान्यपि तानिसर्वाणितीर्थानिबिल्वमूलेवसंतिहि

All the holy places renowned in the world, all those sacred sites are found at the root of the bilva tree.

बिल्वमूले महादेवं लिंगरूपिणमव्ययम् यः पूजयति पुण्यात्मा स शिवं प्राप्नुयाद्ध्रुवम्

He who worships Mahadeva, the imperishable linga-form, at the root of the bilva tree, that virtuous soul surely attains Shiva.

बिल्वमूले जलैर्यस्तु मूर्धानमभिषिंचति स सर्वतीर्थस्नातःस्यात्स एव भुवि पावनः

He who anoints the head at the root of the bilva tree with water becomes as if bathed in all sacred places, and is purified on earth.

एतस्यबिल्वमूलस्याथालवालमनुत्तमम् जलाकुलंमहादेवोदृष्ट्वातुष्टोभवत्यलम्

At this root of the bilva tree, the excellent pond filled with water, when Mahadeva sees it, he becomes greatly pleased.

पूजयेद्विल्वमूलं यो गंधपुष्पादिभिर्नरः शिवलोकमवाप्नोतिसंततिर्वर्धते सुखम्

Whoever worships the root of the bilva tree with fragrance, flowers, and the like, attains Shiva's realm; his lineage prospers and happiness increases.

बिल्वमूले दीपमालांयः कल्पयति सादरम् सतत्त्वज्ञानसंपन्नोमहेशांतर्गतोभवेत्

He who respectfully arranges a row of lamps at the root of the bilva tree, endowed with true knowledge, enters into Mahesha.

बिल्वशाखां समादाय हस्तेन नवपल्लवम् गृहीत्वापूजयेद्बिल्वंसचपापैः प्रमुच्यते

Taking a branch of bilva with fresh leaves in hand, and worshipping the bilva, one is freed from sins.

बिल्वमूले शिवरतं भोजयेद्यस्तु भक्तितः एकंवाकोटिगुणितंतस्यपुण्यंप्रजायते

He who, with devotion, feeds a Shiva devotee at the root of the bilva tree, whether once or a crore times, gains merit multiplied accordingly.

बिल्वमूले क्षीरमुक्तमन्नमाज्येन संयुतम् यो दद्याच्छिवभक्ताय स दरिद्रो न जायते

He who gives milk or food mixed with ghee at the root of the bilva tree to a devotee of Shiva, never becomes poor.

सांगोपांगमिति प्रोक्तं शिवलिंगप्रपूजनम् प्रवृत्तानां निवृत्तानां भेदतो द्विविधं द्विजाः

The worship of the Shiva-linga, with its parts and subsidiary elements, is said to be of two kinds, O twice-born ones: that of those engaged in worldly life and that of those withdrawn from it, distinguished accordingly.

प्रवृत्तानां पीठपूजां सर्वपूजां समाचरेत्

Those who are engaged in worldly life should perform the worship of the pedestal and all the associated rituals.