Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

समर्पयेत्स्वगुरवे स्थापयेद्वा शिवालये संपूज्य च गुरून्विप्रान्व्रतिनश्च विशेषतः

should be offered to one's own teacher or installed in a temple of Shiva; and, having worshipped teachers, Brahmins, and especially those observing vows,

भक्तान्द्विजांश्च शक्तश्चेद्दीनानाथांश्च तोषयेत् स्वयं चानशने शक्तः फलमूलाशने ऽथ वा

if able, one should satisfy devotees, Brahmins, the poor, and the helpless; and, if able, one should oneself eat sparingly, or subsist on fruits and roots.

पयोव्रतो वा भिक्षाशी भवेदेकाशनस्तथा नक्तं युक्ताशनो नित्यं भूशय्यानिरतः शुचिः

Or, one may observe a milk fast, live by alms, eat only once, eat at night, eat moderately, always sleep on the ground, and remain pure.

भस्मशायी तृणेशायी चीराजिनधृतो ऽथवा ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतो नित्यं व्रतमेतत्समाचरेत्

One may sleep on ashes, on grass, wear bark or a deerskin, or else observe lifelong celibacy; one should always practice this vow.

अर्कवारे तथार्द्रायां पञ्चदश्यां च पक्षयोः अष्टम्यां च चतुर्दश्यां शक्तस्तूपवसेदपि

On Sundays, on the new and full moon days, on the eighth and fourteenth days of the lunar fortnight, if able, one should also fast.

पाखण्डिपतितोदक्यास्सूतकान्त्यजपूर्वकान् वर्जयेत्सर्वयत्नेन मनसा कर्मणा गिरा

One should completely avoid, with mind, action, and speech, heretics, outcastes, those who have performed forbidden rites, and those who have abandoned purification.

क्षमदानदयासत्याहिंसाशीलः सदा भवेत् संतुष्टश्च प्रशान्तश्च जपध्यानरतस्तथा

One should always be endowed with forgiveness, generosity, compassion, truthfulness, non-violence, and good conduct, and be content, peaceful, and devoted to recitation and meditation.

कुर्यात्त्रिषवणस्नानं भस्मस्नानमथापि वा पूजां वैशेषिकीं चैव मनसा वचसा गिरा

One should bathe three times daily, or bathe with ashes, and perform special worship with mind, speech, and words.

बहुनात्र किमुक्तेन नाचरेदशिवं व्रती प्रमादात्तु तथाचारे निरूप्य गुरुलाघवे

What more should be said? One observing the vow should not act in an unworthy manner, and if there is any lapse in conduct, one should determine its seriousness or slightness.

उचितां निष्कृतिं कुर्यात्पूजाहोमजपादिभिः आसमाप्तेर्व्रतस्यैवमाचरेन्न प्रमादतः

One should perform the appropriate expiation through worship, offerings into the fire, recitation, and similar acts; thus, until the vow is completed, one should observe this without negligence.

गोदानं च वृषोत्सर्गं कुर्यात्पूजां च संपदा भक्तश्च शिवप्रीत्यर्थं सर्वकामविवर्जितः

One should give cows, release a bull, perform worship according to one's means, and, being devoted and intent on pleasing Shiva, renounce all desires.

सामान्यमेतत्कथितं व्रतस्यास्य समासतः प्रतिमासं विशेषं च प्रवदामि यथाश्रुतम्

This general outline of the vow has been described in brief; now I will state, as I have heard, the specific details for each month.

वैशाखे वज्रलिंगं तु ज्येष्ठे मारकतं शुभम् आषाढे मौक्तिकं विद्याच्छ्रावणे नीलनिर्मितम्

In Vaiśākha, the liṅga should be of diamond; in Jyeṣṭha, of auspicious emerald; in Āṣāḍha, it should be of pearl; in Śrāvaṇa, made of sapphire.

मासे भाद्रपदे चैव पद्मरागमयं परम् आश्विने मासि विद्याद्वै लिंगं गोमेदकं वरम्

In the month of Bhādrapada, it should be of the finest ruby; in Āśvina, one should know the liṅga to be of excellent hessonite.

कार्तिक्यां वैद्रुमं लिंगं वैदूर्यं मार्गशीर्षके पुष्परागमयं पौषे माघे द्युमणिजन्तथा

In Kārtika, the liṅga should be of coral; in Mārgaśīrṣa, of cat's eye; in Pauṣa, of topaz; and in Māgha, likewise of crystal.

फाल्गुणे चन्द्रकान्तोत्थं चैत्रे तद्व्यत्ययो ऽथवा सर्वमासेषु रत्नानामलाभे हैममेव वा

In Phālguna, it should be made from moonstone; in Caitra, there may be an interchange; or, if gems are not available in any month, it may be made of gold.

हैमाभावे राजतं वा ताम्रजं शैलजन्तथा मृन्मयं वा यथालाभं जातुषं चान्यदेव वा

If gold is unavailable, then of silver, copper, stone, clay as obtainable, or even of lac or some other material.

सर्वगंधमयं वाथ लिंगं कुर्याद्यथारुचि व्रतावसानसमये समाचरितनित्यकः

Or, one may make the liṅga entirely of fragrant substances, as desired, at the conclusion of the vow, having performed the regular observances.

कृत्वा वैशेषिकीं पूजां हुत्वा चैव यथा पुरा संपूज्य च तथाचार्यं व्रतिनश्च विशेषतः

Having performed the special worship and made the offerings as before, and having honored the teacher and especially the vow-observer,

देशिकेनाप्यनुज्ञातः प्राङ्मुखो वाप्युदङ्मुखः दर्भासनो दर्भपाणिः प्राणापानौ नियम्य च

Having received permission from the preceptor, facing east or north, seated on darbha grass and holding darbha in hand, having controlled the in-breath and out-breath,

जपित्वा शक्तितो मूलं ध्यात्वा साम्बं त्रियम्बकम् अनुज्ञाप्य यथापूर्वं नमस्कृत्य कृताञ्जलिः

Reciting the root mantra to the best of one's ability, meditating on Triambaka with Ambā, and, having obtained permission as before, bowing with joined palms,

समुत्सृजामि भगवन्व्रतमेतत्त्वदाज्ञया इत्युक्त्वा लिंगमूलस्थान्दर्भानुत्तरतस्त्यजेत्

One should say, 'O Lord, by your command I relinquish this vow,' and then place the darbha grass, which was at the base of the liṅga, to the north.

ततो दण्डजटाचीरमेखला अपि चोत्सृजेत् पुनराचम्य विधिवत्पञ्चाक्षरमुदीरयेत्

Then, one should remove the staff, matted locks, and girdle; after performing purification again according to rule, one should recite the five-syllable mantra.

यः कृत्वात्यंतिकीं दीक्षामादेहान्तमनाकुलः व्रतमेतत्प्रकुर्वीत स तु वै नैष्ठिकः स्मृतः

He who, having undergone the final initiation, observes this vow without agitation until the end of his body—he is known as a Naiṣṭhika.

सो ऽत्याश्रमी च विज्ञेयो महापाशुपतस्तथा स एव तपतां श्रेष्ठ स एव च महाव्रती

He is to be understood as beyond all stages of life, as a great Pāśupata; he alone is the foremost of ascetics, and he alone is the great vow-holder.

न तेन सदृशः कश्चित्कृतकृत्यो मुमुक्षुषु यो यतिर्नैष्ठिको जातस्तमाहुर्नैष्ठिकोत्तमम्

Among those seeking liberation, there is no one accomplished like him; the ascetic who has become a Naiṣṭhika is called the highest among Naiṣṭhikas.

यो ऽन्वहं द्वादशाहं वा व्रतमेतत्समाचरेत् सो ऽपि नैष्ठिकतुल्यः स्यात्तीव्रव्रतसमन्वयात्

He who observes this vow daily or for twelve days is also considered equal to a Naiṣṭhika, due to his connection with an intense vow.

घृताक्तो यश्चरेदेतद्व्रतं व्रतपरायणः द्वित्रैकदिवसं वापि स च कश्चन नैष्ठिकः

Whoever, devoted to vows, performs this observance anointed with ghee, even for two, three, or just one day, is indeed a true renunciant.

कृत्यमित्येव निष्कामो यश्चरेद्व्रतमुत्तमम् शिवार्पितात्मा सततं न तेन सदृशः क्वचित्

Whoever, without desire, performs this supreme vow simply as a duty, with his self always offered to Shiva, there is no one anywhere equal to him.