Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

शिवस्य यजनं ज्ञेयं भोगमोक्षप्रदं नृणाम् वारादिदेवयजनं कार्तिके हि विशिष्यते

Worship of Śiva is to be known as bestowing both enjoyment and liberation for people; worship of the gods according to the days, especially in Kārtika, is highly praised.

कार्तिके मासि संप्राप्ते सर्वान्देवान्यजेद्बुधः दानेन तपसा होमैर्जपेन नियमेन च

When the month of Kārtika arrives, the wise should worship all the gods with gifts, austerity, offerings, recitation, and discipline.

षोडशैरुपचारैश्च प्रतिमा विप्रमंत्रकैः ब्राह्मणानां भोजनेन निष्कामार्तिकरो भवेत्

With sixteen forms of service, with images and Vedic mantras, by feeding Brahmins, one becomes a remover of desire and suffering.

कार्तिके देवयजनं सर्वभोगप्रदं भवेत् व्याधीनां हरणं चैव भवेद्भूतग्रहक्षयः

Worship of the gods in Kārtika grants all enjoyments, removes diseases, and destroys afflictions caused by spirits.

कार्तिकादित्यवारेषु नृणामादित्यपूजनात् तैलकार्पासदानात्तु भवेत्कुष्ठादिसंक्षयः

On Sundays in Kārtika, by worshipping the Sun and giving oil and cotton, there is destruction of leprosy and similar diseases.

हरीतकीमरीचीनां वस्त्रक्षीरादिदानतः ब्रह्मप्रतिष्ठया चैव क्षयरोगक्षयो भवेत्

By giving harītakī, black pepper, cloth, milk, and similar things, and by establishing a Brahma image, consumption and wasting diseases are destroyed.

दीपसर्षपदानाच्च अपस्मारक्षयो भवेत् कृत्तिकासोमवारेषु शिवस्य यजनं नृणाम्

By giving lamps and mustard seeds, epilepsy is removed; on Kṛttikā Mondays, worship of Śiva is prescribed for people.

महादारिद्र्यशमनं सर्वसंपत्करं भवेत् गृहक्षेत्रादिदानाच्च गृहोपकरणादिना

It removes great poverty and brings all prosperity; by giving houses, fields, and household items.

कृत्तिकाभौमवारेषु स्कंदस्य यजनान्नृणाम् दीपघंटादिदानाद्वै वाक्सिद्धिरचिराद्भवेत्

On Kṛttikā Tuesdays, by worshipping Skanda and giving lamps, bells, and the like, mastery of speech is quickly attained.

कृत्तिकासौम्यवारेषु विष्णोर्वै यजनं नृणाम् दध्योदनस्य दानं च सत्संतानकरं भवेत्

On Kṛttikā Wednesdays, by worshipping Viṣṇu and giving curd-rice, one obtains good progeny.

कृतिकागुरुवारेषु ब्रह्मणो यजनाद्धनैः मधुस्वर्णाज्यदानेन भोगवृद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम्

On Kṛttikā Thursdays, by worshipping Brahmā and giving honey, gold, and ghee, enjoyment increases for people.

गंधपुष्पान्नदानेन भोग्यवृद्धिर्भवेन्नृणाम्

By giving fragrance, flowers, and food, enjoyment increases for people.

वंध्या सुपुत्रं लभते स्वर्णरौप्यादिदानतः कृत्तिकाशनिवारेषु दिक्पालानां च वंदनम्

A barren woman obtains a good son by giving gold, silver, and the like; on Kṛttikā Saturdays, worship of the guardians of the directions is prescribed.

दिग्गजानां च नागानां सेतुपानां च पूजनम् त्र्यंबकस्य च रुद्रस्य विष्णोः पापहरस्य च

Worship of the elephants of the directions, serpents, bridges, and also Tryambaka, Rudra, Viṣṇu, and the remover of sins.

ज्ञानदं ब्रह्मणश्चैव धन्वंतर्यश्विनोस्तथा रोगापमृत्युहरणं तत्कालव्याधिशांतिदम्

Worship of Brahmā, the bestower of knowledge, Dhanvantari, and the Aśvins removes disease, untimely death, and pacifies sudden illnesses.

लवणायसतैलानां माषादीनां च दानतः त्रिकटुफलगंधानां जलादीनां च दानतः

By giving salt, iron, oil, black gram, and by giving three pungent fruits, fragrances, water, and the like.

द्रवाणां कठिनानां च प्रस्थेन पलमानतः स्वर्गप्राप्तिर्धनुर्मासे ह्युषःकाले च पूजनम्

By giving both liquids and solids in standard measures, one attains heaven; and in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, worship at dawn is prescribed.

शिवादीनां च सर्वेषां क्रमाद्वै सर्वसिद्धये शाल्यन्नस्य हविष्यस्य नैवेद्यं शस्तमुच्यते

Worship of Śiva and all the others in order grants all accomplishments; rice and havis food are said to be the best offerings.

विविधान्नस्य नैवेद्यं धनुर्मासे विशिष्यते मार्गशीर्षे ऽन्नदस्यैव सर्वमिष्टफलं भवेत्

Various kinds of food offerings are especially praised in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa; in Mārgaśīrṣa, giving food yields all desired results.

पापक्षयं चेष्टसिद्धिं चारोग्यं धर्ममेव च सम्यग्वेदपरिज्ञानं सदनुष्ठानमेव च

The removal of sin, accomplishment of actions, health, righteousness, proper understanding of the Veda, and its correct practice.

इहामुत्र महाभोगानंते योगं च शाश्वतम् वेदांतज्ञानसिद्धिं च मार्गशीर्षान्नदो लभेत्

Here and hereafter, great enjoyments, eternal union, attainment of knowledge at the end of the Veda, are obtained from the offering of rice in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa.

मार्गशीर्षे ह्युषःकाले दिनत्रयमथापि वा यजेद्देवान्भोगकामो नाधनुर्मासिको भवेत्

In Mārgaśīrṣa, at dawn, for three days or more, one should worship the gods if desiring enjoyment; one should not be a monthly archer (i.e., one who delays).

यावत्संगवकालं तु धनुर्मासो विधीयते धनुर्मासे निराहारो मासमात्रं जितेंद्रियः

As long as the period of conjunction lasts, the month of Dhanur is prescribed; in Dhanur month, one should fast for a month, with the senses conquered.

आमध्याह्नजपेद्विप्रो गायत्रीं वेदमातरम् पञ्चाक्षरादिकान्मंत्रान्पश्चादासप्तिकं जपेत्

A Brāhmaṇa should recite the Gāyatrī, the mother of the Veda, at midday, and afterwards recite mantras beginning with the five-syllabled one, up to the seven-syllabled.

ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा च देहांते विप्रो मुक्तिमवाप्नुयात् अन्येषां नरनारीणां त्रिःस्नानेन जपेन च

Having attained knowledge, at the end of the body, the Brāhmaṇa achieves liberation; for other men and women, through thrice bathing and recitation.

सदा पञ्चाक्षरस्यैव विशुद्धं ज्ञानमाप्यते इष्टमन्त्रान्सदाजप्त्वा महापापक्षयं लभेत्

By always reciting the five-syllabled mantra, pure knowledge is attained; by always reciting desired mantras, one obtains the removal of great sins.

धनुर्मासे विशेषेण महानैवेद्यमाचरेत् शालितंडुलभारेण मरीचप्रस्थकेन च

In the month of Dhanur, one should especially prepare a great offering, with a measure of rice and a prastha of black pepper.

गणनाद्द्वादशं सर्वं मध्वाज्यकुडवेन हि द्रोणयुक्तेन मुद्गेन द्वादशव्यंजनेन च

By counting, twelve of everything, with a kuḍava of honey and ghee, a droṇa of lentils, and twelve kinds of vegetables.

घृतपक्वैरपूपैश्च मोदकैः शालिकादिभिः द्वादशैश्च दधिक्षीरैर्द्वादशप्रस्थकेन च

With cakes cooked in ghee, sweets, rice and similar items, twelve kinds, and twelve prasthas of curd and milk.