Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

श्रविष्ठाख्ये तु नक्षत्रे प्रौष्ठपद्यां ततः परम् प्रोक्षयेच्च जलक्रीडां पूर्वाषाढाश्रये दिने

On the day of the Śraviṣṭhā constellation, and then on the new moon of Bhādrapada, one should perform the ritual sprinkling and water play on a day presided over by Pūrvāṣāḍhā.

आश्वयुज्यां ततो दद्यात्पायसं च नवोदनम् अग्निकार्यं च तेनैव कुर्याच्छतभिषग्दिने

In Āśvayuja, one should offer milk-rice and newly harvested grain; on the day of Śatabhiṣak, one should perform the fire ritual accordingly.

कार्तिक्यां कृतिकायोगे दद्याद्दीपसहस्रकम् मार्गशीर्षे तथार्द्रायां घृतेन स्नापयेच्छिवम्

In Kārtika, when Kṛttikā is present, one should offer a thousand lamps; in Mārgaśīrṣa, on the day of Ārdrā, one should bathe Śiva with ghee.

अशक्तस्तेषु कालेषु कुर्यादुत्सवमेव वा आस्थानं वा महापूजामधिकं वा समर्चनम्

If one is unable at those times, one may instead hold a festival, or establish a seat, or perform a great worship, or offer special adoration.

आवृत्ते ऽपि च कल्याणे प्रशस्तेष्वपि कर्मसु दौर्मनस्ये दुराचारे दुःस्वप्ने दुष्टदर्शने

Even when auspicious rites are completed, or in the midst of praiseworthy actions, if there is distress, misconduct, evil dreams, or inauspicious visions,

उत्पाते वाशुभेन्यस्मिन्रोगे वा प्रबले ऽथ वा स्नानपूजाजपध्यानहोमदानादिकाः क्रियः

Or if there is calamity, misfortune, or severe illness, then one should perform acts such as bathing, worship, recitation, meditation, fire offerings, and gifts.

निर्मितानुगुणाः कार्याः पुरश्चरणपूर्विकाः शिवानले च विहते पुनस्सन्धानमाचरेत्

These prescribed acts should be performed in accordance with the rules, preceded by proper preparation; if the Śiva fire ritual is interrupted, one should restore it again.

य एवं शर्वधर्मिष्ठो वर्तते नित्यमुद्यतः तस्यैकजन्मना मुक्तिं प्रयच्छति महेश्वरः

Whoever thus lives devoted to Śarva’s dharma, ever diligent, to him the great Lord grants liberation in a single birth.

एतद्यथोत्तरं कुर्यान्नित्यनैमित्तिकेषु यः दिव्यं श्रीकंठनाथस्य स्थानमाद्यं स गच्छति

Whoever performs these acts as prescribed, both regularly and on special occasions, attains the divine, supreme abode of Śrīkaṇṭhanātha.

तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगान्कल्पकोटिशतन्नरः कालांतरेच्युतस्तस्मादौमं कौमारमेव च

There, after enjoying great pleasures for hundreds of millions of aeons, when the time comes, he departs from there and attains the Uma or Kaumāra realm.