Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

अभिषेकान्ते नैवेद्यं शाल्यन्नेन समाचरेत् पूजान्ते स्थापयेल्लिंगं पुटे शुद्धे पृथग्गृहे

At the end of the ablution, one should offer food made of rice; at the conclusion of the worship, the linga should be placed in a pure vessel, kept separately in the house.

करपूजानिवृत्तानां स्वभोज्यं तु निवेदयेत् निवृत्तानां परंसूक्ष्मं लिंगमेव विशिष्यते

Those who have renounced perform worship with their hands and offer their own food; for the renounced, only the most subtle linga is considered appropriate.

विभूत्यभ्यर्चनं कुर्याद्विभूतिं च निवेदयेत् पूजां कृत्वा तथा लिंगंशिरसाधारयेत्सदा

One should worship with sacred ash and also offer the ash; after worship, one should always place the linga upon the head.

सूतसूतमहाभागव्यासशिष्यनमोस्तुते तदेवव्यासतोब्रूहिभस्ममाहात्म्यमुत्तमम्

O Suta, highly fortunate disciple of Vyasa, I bow to you; therefore, please tell from Vyasa himself the supreme greatness of sacred ash.

तथा रुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यं नाम माहात्म्यमुत्तमम् त्रितयं ब्रूहिसुप्रीत्याममानंदयचेतसम्

Likewise, the supreme greatness called the glory of Rudraksha—these three, speak them out of affection to those whose minds are filled with joy.

साधुपृष्टंभवद्भिश्चलोकानांहितकारकम् भवंतोवैमहाधन्याः पवित्राः कुलभूषणाः

You have been asked by the virtuous; this brings benefit to the worlds. Truly, you are greatly blessed, pure, and the ornaments of your lineage.

येषांचैवशिवःसाक्षाद्दैवतंपरमंशुभम् सदाशिवकथालोकेवल्लभाभवतां सदा

For those whose supreme and auspicious deity is Shiva himself, the stories of Sadashiva are always dear to you.

तेधन्याश्चकृतार्थाश्चसफलंदेहधारणम् उद्धृतञ्चकुलंतेषांयेशिवंसमुपासते

They are blessed and fulfilled; their embodiment has borne fruit. Their lineage is uplifted—those who worship Shiva in this way.

मुखेयस्यशिवनामसदाशिवशिवेतिच पापानिनस्पृशंत्येवखदिरांगारंकयथा

On whose lips are always the names Shiva, Sadashiva, and Shiva—sins do not touch them, just as charcoal does not stain the wood of the khadira tree.

श्रीशिवायनमस्तुभ्यंमुखंव्याहरतेयदा तन्मुखंपावनंतीर्थंसर्वपापविनाशनम्

Obeisance to you, O Shiva-ayana; when your mouth utters this, that mouth becomes a holy place, destroying all sins.