Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

न क्लिन्नं नातिकठिनं न दुर्गन्धं न शोषितम् उपर्यधः परित्यज्य गृह्णीयात्पतितं यदि

It should not be moist, nor too hard, nor foul-smelling, nor dried out; discarding the upper and lower portions, one should take what has fallen, if so.

पिंडीकृत्य शिवाग्न्यादौ तत्क्षिपेन्मूलमंत्रतः अपक्वमतिपाक्वं च संत्यज्य भसितं सितम्

Having made it into a lump, one should throw it into the Shiva fire with the root mantra; discarding what is undercooked or overcooked, one should take the white ash.

आदाय वा समालोड्य भस्माधारे विनिक्षिपेत् तैजसं दारवं वापि मृन्मयं शैलमेव च

Or, having taken it, one should mix it and place it in an ash-holder, whether metallic, wooden, earthen, or stone.

अन्यद्वा शोभनं शुद्धं भस्माधारं प्रकल्पयेत् समे देशे शुभे शुद्धे धनवद्भस्म निक्षिपेत्

Or else, one should prepare another beautiful and pure ash-holder; in a suitable, auspicious, and clean place, one should deposit the valuable ash.

न चायुक्तकरे दद्यान्नैवाशुचितले क्षिपेत् न संस्पृशेच्च नीचांगैर्नोपेक्षेत न लंघयेत्

One should not give it to an unqualified person, nor place it on an impure surface; one should not touch it with inferior limbs, nor neglect it, nor step over it.

तस्माद्भसितमादाय विनियुंजीत मन्त्रतः कालेषूक्तेषु नान्यत्र नायोग्येभ्यः प्रदापयेत्

Therefore, having taken the ash, one should consecrate it with mantras at the prescribed times; not elsewhere, nor should it be given to the unworthy.

भस्मसंग्रहणं कुर्याद्देवे ऽनुद्वासिते सति उद्वासने कृते यस्माच्चण्डभस्म प्रजापते

One should collect the ash when the deity has not been dismissed; after the dismissal is performed, since the fierce ash belongs to Prajāpati.

अग्निकार्ये कृते पश्चाच्छिवशास्त्रोक्तमार्गतः स्वसूत्रोक्तप्रकाराद्वा बलिकर्म समाचरेत्

After the fire ritual is performed, according to the path prescribed in the Shiva scriptures, or according to one's own sūtra, one should perform the offering rite.

अथ विद्यासनं न्यस्य सुप्रलिप्ते तु मण्दले विद्याकोशं प्रतिष्ठाप्य यजेत्पुष्पादिभिः क्रमात्

Then, having placed the seat of knowledge in a well-smeared circle, and having established the repository of knowledge, one should worship with flowers and so forth, in order.

विद्यायाः पुरतः कृत्वा गुरोरपि च मण्डलम् तत्रासनवरं कृत्वा पुष्पाद्यै गुरुमर्चयेत्

Placing the diagram of the teacher before the diagram of the mantra, one should arrange an excellent seat there and worship the teacher with flowers and other offerings.

ततोनुपूजयेत्पूज्यान् भोजयेच्च बुभुक्षितान् ततस्स्वयं च भुंजीत शुद्धमन्नं यथासुखम्

Then, one should honor those worthy of worship and feed the hungry; afterwards, one may eat oneself, pure food as desired.

निवेदितं च वा देवे तच्छेषं चात्मशुद्धये श्रद्दधानो न लोभेन न चण्डाय समर्पितम्

What has been offered to the deity, and what remains from that, should be taken for one's own purification, with faith, not out of greed, nor given to the unworthy.

गन्धमाल्यादि यच्चान्यत्तत्राप्येष समो विधिः न तु तत्र शिवोस्मीति बुद्धिं कुर्याद्विचक्षणः

The same rule applies to sandalwood, garlands, and other such offerings; but the wise should not form the notion, 'I am Shiva,' in this context.

भुक्त्वाचम्य शिवं ध्यात्वा हृदये मूलमुच्चरेत् कालशेषं नयेद्योग्यैः शिवशास्त्रकथादिभिः

Having eaten, rinsed the mouth, and meditated on Shiva in the heart, one should recite the root mantra and spend the remaining time appropriately with the telling of Shiva's scriptures and similar activities.

रात्रौ व्यतीते पूर्वांशे कृत्वा पूजां मनोहराम् शिवयोः शयनं त्वेकं कल्पयेदतिशोभनम्

When the first part of the night has passed, having performed a delightful worship, one should arrange a most beautiful resting place for Shiva and the Goddess.

भक्ष्यभोज्यांबरालेपपुष्पमालादिकं तथा मनसा कर्मणा वापि कृत्वा सर्वं मनोहरम्

All enjoyable foods, garments, ointments, flower garlands, and the like, whether in mind or in action, should be offered, making everything pleasing.

ततो देवस्य देव्याश्च पादमूले शुचिस्स्वपेत् गृहस्थो भार्यया सार्धं तदन्ये ऽपि तु केवलाः

Then, the householder, together with his wife, should sleep in purity at the feet of the Lord and the Goddess; others, however, should sleep alone.

प्रत्यूषसमयं बुद्ध्वा मात्रामाद्यामुदीरयेत् प्रणम्य मनसां देवं सांबं सगणमव्ययम्

At the time of dawn, having become aware, one should utter the first measure of the day, bowing mentally to the imperishable Lord with Uma and His attendants.

देशकालोचितं कृत्वा शौचाद्यमपि शक्तितः शंखादिनिनदैर्दिव्यैर्देवं देवीं च बोधयेत्

Having performed the appropriate acts of purity and so forth, according to place and time and to one's ability, one should awaken the Lord and the Goddess with the divine sounds of conch and other instruments.

ततस्तत्समयोन्निद्रैः पुष्पैरतिसुगंधिभिः निर्वर्त्य शिवयोः पूजां प्रारभेत पुरोदितम्

Then, with flowers of exquisite fragrance, gathered at the proper time, one should complete the worship of Shiva and the Goddess as previously described.

अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि शिवाश्रमनिषेविणाम् शिवशास्त्रोक्तमार्गेण नैमित्तिकविधिक्रमम्

Now I shall explain, for those devoted to Shiva's hermitage, the occasional rites according to the procedure taught in the scriptures of Shiva.

सर्वेष्वपि च मासेषु पक्षयोरुभयोरपि अष्टाभ्यां च चतुर्दश्यां तथा पर्वाणि च क्रमात्

In every month, in both fortnights, on the eighth and fourteenth days, and likewise on the festival days in order,

अयने विषुवे चैव ग्रहणेषु विशेषतः कर्तव्या महती पूजा ह्यधिका वापि शक्तितः

At the solstices, equinoxes, and especially during eclipses, one should perform a great worship, or an even greater one, according to one's ability.

मासिमासि यथान्यायं ब्रह्मकूर्चं प्रसाध्य तु स्नापयित्वा शिवं तेन पिबेच्छेषमुपोषितः

Each month, as is proper, after preparing the Brahmakurcha, one should bathe Shiva with it, and, having fasted, drink the remainder.

ब्रह्महत्यादिदोषाणामतीव महतामपि निष्कृतिर्ब्रह्मकूर्चस्य पानान्नान्या विशिष्यते

For even the gravest sins, such as the killing of a Brahmin, there is no expiation greater than drinking the Brahmakurcha.

पौषे पुष्यनक्षत्रे कुर्यान्नीराजनं विभोः माघे मघाख्ये नक्षत्रे प्रदद्याद् घृतकंबलम्

In the month of Pausha, under the Pushya star, one should perform the waving of lights for the Lord; in Magha, under the Magha star, one should offer a ghee-soaked blanket.

फाल्गुने चोत्तरान्ते वै प्रारभेत महोत्सवम् चैत्रे चित्रापौर्णमास्यां दोलां कुर्याद्यथाविधि

At the end of Uttara in Phalguna, one should begin the great festival; in Chaitra, on the full moon of Chitra, one should properly perform the swing festival.

वैशाख्यां तु विशाखायां कुर्यात्पुष्पमहालयम् ज्येष्ठे मूलाख्यनक्षत्रे शीतकुम्भं प्रदापयेत्

In the month of Vaiśākha, on the day of Viśākhā, one should establish a great temple of flowers; in Jyeṣṭha, under the Mūla constellation, one should offer a cool water pot.

आषाढे चोत्तराषाढे पवित्रारोपणं तथा श्रावणे प्राकृतान्यापि मण्डलानि प्रकल्पयेत्

In Āṣāḍha, on Uttarāṣāḍhā, one should perform the installation of sacred threads; likewise, in Śrāvaṇa, one should arrange the customary mandalas.