Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

शौर्यं वै जगति ख्यातिश्शिवमर्चयतो भवेत् तस्मात्सर्वं परित्यज्य शिवैकाहितमानसः

Courage and fame in the world come to one who worships Shiva; therefore, abandoning everything, with a mind intent only on Shiva—

शिवपूजाविधिं कुर्याद्यदीच्छेच्छिवमात्मनः त्वरितं जीवितं याति त्वरितं याति यौवनम्

One should perform the rite of Shiva's worship if one desires Shiva for oneself; life passes swiftly, youth passes swiftly—

त्वरितं व्याधिरभ्येति तस्मात्पूज्यः पिनाकधृक् यावन्नायाति मरणं यावन्नाक्रमते जरा

Disease comes swiftly; therefore, the bearer of the pināka bow should be worshipped, as long as death has not come, as long as old age has not overtaken—

यावन्नेन्द्रियवैकल्यं तावत्पूजय शंकरम् न शिवार्चनतुल्यो ऽस्ति धर्मो ऽन्यो भुवनत्रये

As long as the senses have not failed, so long should one worship Shankara; there is no other dharma in the three worlds equal to the worship of Shiva.

इति विज्ञाय यत्नेन पूजनीयस्सदाशिवः द्वारयागं जवनिकां परिवारबलिक्रियाम्

Knowing this, one should diligently worship Sadashiva, with door-ritual, curtain, and offerings to the attendants.

नित्योत्सवं च कुर्वीत प्रसादे यदि पूजयेत् हविर्निवेदनादूर्ध्वं स्वयं चानुचरो ऽपि वा

One should always hold a festival, and if possible, worship at the time of grace, after offering oblations, whether oneself or even an attendant.

प्रसादपरिवारेभ्यो बलिं दद्याद्यथाक्रमम् निर्गम्य सह वादित्रैस्तदाशाभिमुखः स्थितः

One should give offerings to the attendants of grace in due order, then, having gone out with musical instruments, stand facing that direction.

पुष्पं धूपं च दीपञ्च दद्यादन्नं जलैः सह ततो दद्यान्महापीठे तिष्ठन्बलिमुदङ्मुखः

One should offer flowers, incense, and a lamp, along with food and water; then, standing upon the great altar facing east, one should present the offering.

ततो निवेदितं देवे यत्तदन्नादिकं पुरा तत्सर्वं सावशेषं वा चण्डाय विनिवेदयेत्

Afterwards, whatever food and other items have been previously offered to the deity, all of it, whether with remnants or not, should be dedicated to Caṇḍa.

हुत्वा च विधिवत्पश्चात्पूजाशेषं समापयेत् कृत्वा प्रयोगं विधिवद्यावन्मन्त्रं जपं ततः

Having performed the oblation according to the prescribed method, one should complete the remainder of the worship; then, having properly executed the ritual, one should recite the mantra as instructed.

नित्योत्सवं प्रकुर्वीत यथोक्तं शिवशासने विपुले तैजसे पात्रे रक्तपद्मोपशोभिते

One should conduct the daily festival as prescribed in Shiva's ordinance, using a large, radiant vessel adorned with red lotuses.

अस्त्रं पाशुपतं दिव्यं तत्रावाह्य समर्चयेत् शिवस्यारोप्यः तत्पात्रं द्विजस्यालंकृतस्य च

There, one should invoke and worship the divine Pāśupata weapon; the vessel of Shiva should be placed upon a decorated Brahmin.

न्यस्तास्त्रवपुषा तेन दीप्तयष्टिधरस्य च प्रासादपरिवारेभ्यो बहिर्मंगलनिःस्वनैः

With the form of the weapon placed upon him, holding a shining staff, outside the temple precincts, accompanied by auspicious sounds.

नृत्यगेयादिभिश्चैव सह दीपध्वजादिभिः प्रदक्षिणत्रयं कृत्वा न द्रुतं चाविलम्बितम्

Along with dance, song, and similar festivities, and with lamps, banners, and the like, one should perform three circumambulations—not too quickly nor too slowly.

महापीठं समावृत्य त्रिःप्रदक्षिणयोगतः पुनः प्रविष्टो द्वारस्थो यजमानः कृताञ्जलिः आदायाभ्यंतरं नीत्वा ह्यस्त्रमुद्वासयेत् ततः

Having encircled the great altar three times, the sacrificer, standing at the doorway with hands joined, re-enters, takes the weapon inside, and then dismisses it.

प्रदक्षिणादिकं कृत्वा यथापूर्वोदितं क्रमात् आदाय चाष्टपुष्पाणि पूजामथ समापयेत्

After performing circumambulation and related rites as previously described, one should take eight flowers and then complete the worship.

अथाग्निकार्यं वक्ष्यामि कुण्डे वा स्थंडिले ऽपि वा वेद्यां वा ह्यायसे पात्रे मृन्मये वा नवे शुभे

Now I will explain the fire ritual, whether in a pit, on the ground, on an altar, or in a vessel of iron or new, auspicious clay.

आधायाग्निं विधानेन संस्कृत्य च ततः परम् तत्राराध्य महादेवं होमकर्म समाचरेत्

Having established the fire according to the prescribed method and properly prepared it, one should worship Mahādeva there and perform the oblation ritual.

कुण्डं द्विहस्तमानं वा हस्तमात्रमथापि वा वृत्तं वा चतुरस्रं वा कुर्याद्वेदिं च मण्डलम्

One may make the fire pit two hand-spans wide, or one hand-span, either circular or square; one should also create a mandala altar.

कुण्डं विस्तारवन्निम्नं तन्मध्ये ऽष्टदलाम्बुजम् चतुरंगुलमुत्सेधं तस्य द्व्यंगुलमेव वा

The fire pit should be broad and deep, with an eight-petaled lotus in its center, raised four fingers high, or even two fingers.

वितस्तिद्विगुणोन्नत्या नाभिमन्तः प्रचक्षते मध्यं च मध्यमांगुल्या मध्यमोत्तमपर्वणोः

Its height is said to be twice the width of a span, not exceeding the navel; the center is measured by the middle finger, between its middle and upper joints.

अंगुलैः कथ्यते सद्भिश्चतुर्विंशतिभिः करः मेखलानां त्रयं वापि द्वयमेकमथापि वा

According to the wise, the hand is measured by twenty-four fingers; there may be three, two, or one belt (mekhalā) around it.

यथाशोभं प्रकुर्वीत श्लक्ष्णमिष्टं मृदा स्थिरम् अश्वत्थपत्रवद्योनिं गजाधारवदेव वा

One should fashion it as pleasing, smooth, and firm with clay, resembling the shape of a fig leaf or the support of an elephant.

मेखलामध्यतः कुर्यात्पश्चिमे दक्षिणे ऽपि वा शोभनामग्नितः किंचिन्निम्नामुन्मीलिकां शनैः

One should make the belt in the middle, either on the west or south side, beautiful and slightly lower than the fire, with a gentle opening.

अग्रेण कुण्डाभिमुखीं किंचिदुत्सृज्य मेखलाम् नोत्सेधनियमो वेद्याः सा मार्दी वाथ सैकती

The belt should be left slightly open toward the fire pit in front; there is no fixed rule for the altar's elevation, whether soft or sandy.

मंडलं गोशकृत्तोयैर्मानं पात्रस्य नोदितम् कुण्डं च मृन्मयं वेदिमालिपेद्गोमयांबुना

The circle should be made with cow dung and water; the measure of the vessel is not specified. The fire-pit should be of clay, and the altar should be smeared with cow dung and water.

प्रक्षाल्य तापयेत्पात्रं प्रोक्षयेदन्यदंभसा स्वसूत्रोक्तप्रकारेण कुण्डादौ विल्लिखेत्ततः

After washing, the vessel should be heated and sprinkled with other water. Then, according to the procedure stated in one's own tradition, one should inscribe (the marks) on the fire-pit and so on.

संप्रोक्ष्य कल्पयेद्दर्भैः पुष्पैर्वा वह्निविष्टरम् अर्चनार्थं च होमार्थं सर्वद्रव्याणि साधयेत्

Having sprinkled (the area), one should arrange the seat for the fire with darbha grass or flowers, and prepare all the materials needed for worship and for the fire offering.

प्रक्षाल्यक्षालनीयानि प्रोक्षण्या प्रोक्ष्य शोधयेत् मणिजं काष्ठजं वाथ श्रोत्रियागारसम्भवम्

After washing, the items to be washed should be purified by sprinkling; whether made of gems or wood, or originating from a house of a learned Brahmin.