Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

वह्नौ वा स्थण्डिले वाथ भक्त्या वित्तानुसारतः अथवांतर्बहिश्चैव पूजयेत्परमेश्वरम् अंतर्यागरतः पूजां बहिः कुर्वीत वा न वा

Or in fire, or on a sacrificial altar, according to one's devotion and means; or both internally and externally, one should worship the Supreme Lord. If devoted to internal worship, one may perform external worship or not.

व्याख्यां पूजाविधानस्य प्रवदामि समासतः शिवशास्त्रे शिवेनैव शिवायै कथितस्य तु

I shall briefly explain the method of worship, as taught by Shiva himself to the goddess in the scripture of Shiva.

अंगमभ्यंतरं यागमग्निकार्यावसानकम् विधाय वा न वा पश्चाद्बहिर्यागं समाचरेत्

The internal worship, up to the completion of the fire ritual, may be performed or not; afterwards, one should perform the external worship.

तत्र द्रव्याणि मनसा कल्पयित्वा विशोध्य च ध्यात्वा विनायकं देवं पूजयित्वा विधानतः

There, having mentally conceived and purified the offerings, and having meditated on the god Vinayaka, one should worship him according to the prescribed method.

दक्षिणे चोत्तरे चैव नंदीशं सुयशं तथा आराध्य मनसा सम्यगासनं कल्पयेद्बुधः

On the right and left, one should worship Nandi and Suyaśa; having properly worshipped them in the mind, the wise should arrange the seat.

आराधनादिकैर्युक्तस्सिंहयोगासनादिकम् पद्मासनं वा विमलं तत्त्वत्रयसमन्वितम्

Endowed with the acts of worship and the like, with the lion posture or similar, or with the pure lotus posture, accompanied by the three principles.

तस्योपरि शिवं ध्यायेत्सांबं सर्वमनोहरम् सर्वलक्षणसंपन्नं सर्वावयवशोभनम्

Upon that, one should meditate on Shiva with his consort, supremely enchanting, endowed with all auspicious marks, beautiful in every limb.

सर्वातिशयसंयुक्तं सर्वाभरणभूषितम् रक्तास्यपाणिचरणं कुंदचंद्रस्मिताननम्

Endowed with every excellence, adorned with all ornaments, with red mouth, hands, and feet, and a face smiling like jasmine and the moon.

शुद्धस्फटिकसंकाशं फुल्लपद्मत्रिलोचनम् चतुर्भुजमुदाराङ्गं चारुचंद्रकलाधरम्

Resembling pure crystal, with three eyes like blooming lotuses, four-armed, with noble limbs, and bearing a beautiful crescent moon.

वरदाभयहस्तं च मृगटंकधरं हरम् भुजंगहारवलयं चारुनीलगलांतरम्

With hands granting boons and dispelling fear, bearing the antelope mark, the Lord, adorned with serpent garlands and bracelets, with a lovely blue throat.

सर्वोपमानरहितं सानुगं सपरिच्छदम् ततः संचिंतयेत्तस्य वामभागे महेश्वरीम्

Without any equal, accompanied by attendants and retinue; then, one should contemplate the great goddess at his left side.

प्रफुल्लोत्पलपत्राभां विस्तीर्णायतलोचनाम् पूर्णचंद्राभवदनां नीलकुंचितमूर्धजाम्

With eyes wide and long like the petals of a fully blossomed blue lotus, a face like the full moon, and dark, curly hair.

नीलोत्पलदलप्रख्यां चन्द्रार्धकृतशेखराम् अतिवृत्तघनोत्तुंगस्निग्धपीनपयोधराम्

Resembling the petals of a blue lotus, crowned with a crescent moon, with exceedingly full, firm, and glossy breasts, high and prominent.

तनुमध्यां पृथुश्रोणीं पीतसूक्ष्मवराम्बराम् सर्वाभरणसंपन्नां ललाटतिलकोज्ज्वलाम्

With a slender waist, broad hips, clothed in fine yellow garments, adorned with all ornaments, and a shining mark on her forehead.

विचित्रपुष्पसंकीर्णकेशपाशोपशोभिताम् सर्वतो ऽनुगुणाकारां किंचिल्लज्जानताननाम्

Her hair beautifully arranged and adorned with various flowers, her form harmonious in every way, her face showing a touch of modesty.

हेमारविंदं विलसद्दधानां दक्षिणे करे दंडवच्चापरं हस्ते न्यस्यासीनां महासने

Holding a shining golden lotus in her right hand, and in the other, resting a staff, she is seated upon a great throne.

पाशविच्छेदिकां साक्षात्सच्चिदानंदरूपिणीम् एवं देवं च देवीं च ध्यात्वासनवरे शुभे

Holding a noose-cutter, manifesting the form of existence, consciousness, and bliss; thus, having meditated on the god and goddess upon the auspicious seat.

सर्वोपचारवद्भक्त्या भावपुष्पैस्समर्चयेत् अथवा परिकल्प्यैवं मूर्तिमन्यतमां विभोः

With all offerings and devotion, one should worship with flowers of the mind; or, having imagined any other form of the Lord in this way.

शैवीं सदाशिवाख्यां वा तथा माहेश्वरीं पराम् षड्विंशकाभिधानां वा श्रीकंठाख्यामथापि वा

Whether as Śivī, called Sadāśiva, or as the supreme Māheśvarī, or as the one known as Ṣaḍviṃśakā, or as Śrīkaṇṭha.

मन्त्रन्यासादिकां चापि कृत्वा स्वस्यां तनौ यथा अस्यां मूर्तौ मूर्तिमंतं शिवं सदसतः परम्

Having performed mantra installation and the like upon one's own body, one should contemplate in this form the embodied Śiva, beyond being and non-being.

ध्यात्वा बाह्यक्रमेणैव पूजां निर्वर्तयेद्धिया समिदाज्यादिभिः पश्चान्नाभौ होमं च भावयेत्

Having meditated thus, one should perform the external worship with the mind, and afterwards, in the navel, one should envision the homa with kindling, ghee, and so on.

भ्रूमध्ये च शिवं ध्यायेच्छुद्धदीपशिखाकृतिम् इत्थमंगे स्वतंत्रे वा योगे ध्यानमये शुभे

One should meditate on Śiva between the eyebrows, in the form of a pure lamp flame; thus, in the body, or independently, in auspicious meditation or yoga.

अग्निकार्यावसानं च सर्वत्रैव समो विधिः अथ चिंतामयं सर्वं समाप्याराधनक्रमम्

At the conclusion of the fire ritual, the same rule applies everywhere; then, having completed the entire mental worship sequence.

लिंगे च पूजयेद्देवं स्थंडिले वानले ऽपि वा

One should worship the Lord in the liṅga, or on the altar, or even in fire.

प्रोक्षयेन्मूलमंत्रेण पूजास्थानं विशुद्धये गन्धचन्दनतोयेन पुष्पं तत्र विनिक्षिपेत्

One should sprinkle the place of worship with the root mantra for purification, and place a flower there with sandalwood-scented water.

अस्त्रेणोत्सार्य वै विघ्नानवगुण्ठ्य च वर्मणा अस्त्रं दिक्षु प्रविन्यस्य कल्पयेदर्चनाभुवम्

With a weapon, drive away obstacles and cover them with armor; then, after casting the weapon in all directions, prepare the place for worship.

तत्र दर्भान्परिस्तीर्य क्षालयेत्प्रोक्षणादिभिः संशोध्य सर्वपात्राणि द्रव्यशुद्धिं समाचरेत्

Spread darbha grass there and cleanse it with sprinkling and other rites; purify all vessels and ensure the purity of the materials.

प्रोक्षणीमर्ध्यपात्रं च पाद्यपात्रमतः परम् तथैवाचमनीयस्य पात्रं चेति चतुष्टयम्

The vessel for sprinkling, the vessel for washing the feet, and likewise the vessel for sipping water—these four should be arranged.

प्रक्षाल्य प्रोक्ष्य वीक्ष्याथ क्षिपेत्तेषु जलं शिवम् पुण्यद्रव्याणि सर्वाणि यथालाभं विनिक्षिपेत्

After washing, sprinkling, and inspecting, pour auspicious water into them; place all sacred materials according to what is available.