Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

नारिकेलफलादीनां तथा गणनया सह द्वादशक्रमुकैर्युक्तं षट्त्रिंशत्पत्रकैर्युतम्

With coconut fruits and others, counted as twelve, combined with twelve betel nuts and thirty-six leaves.

कर्पूरखुरचूर्णेन पञ्चसौगंधिकैर्युतम् तांबूलयुक्तं तु यदा महानैवेद्यलक्षणम्

With camphor, cardamom powder, and five aromatic substances, together with betel leaf, this is the mark of the great offering.

महानैवेद्यमेतद्वै देवतार्पणपूर्वकम् वर्णानुक्रमपूर्वेण तद्भक्तेभ्यः प्रदापयेत्

This great offering, preceded by dedication to the deity, should be given to the devotees according to the order of their caste.

एवं चौदननैवेद्याद्भूमौ राष्ट्रपतिर्भवेत् महानैवेद्यदानेन नरः स्वर्गमवाप्नुयात्

Thus, from the offering of cooked food, one becomes a ruler of the land; by giving the great offering, a man attains heaven.

महानैवेद्यदानेन सहस्रेण द्विजर्षभाः सत्यलोके च तल्लोके पूर्णमायुरवाप्नुयात्

By giving a thousand great offerings, the best of twice-born attain full lifespan in the world of truth and in that realm.

सहस्राणां च त्रिंशत्या महानैवेद्यदानतः तदूर्ध्वलोकमाप्यैव न पुनर्जन्मभाग्भवेत्

By giving thirty thousand great offerings, one attains the higher world and does not become subject to rebirth.

सहस्राणां च षट्त्रिंशज्जन्म नैवेद्यमीरितम् तावन्नैवेद्यदानं तु महापूर्णं तदुच्यते

Of thirty-six thousand, the offering for birth is declared; until that offering is given, the great fullness is said to be so.

महापूर्णस्य नैवेद्यं जन्मनैवेद्यमिष्यते जन्मनैवेद्यदानेन पुनर्जन्म न विद्यते

The offering of the great fullness is considered the offering for birth; by giving the offering for birth, there is no further rebirth.

ऊर्जे मासि दिने पुण्ये जन्म नैवेद्यमाचरेत् संक्रांतिपातजन्मर्क्षपौर्णमास्यादिसंयुते

In the auspicious month of Urja, on a holy day, one should perform the birth offering, especially when it coincides with a solstice, equinox, birth star, full moon, or similar occasions.

अब्दजन्मदिने कुर्याज्जन्मनैवेद्यमुत्तमम् मासांतरेषु जन्मर्क्षपूर्णयोगदिनेपि च

On the anniversary of one's birth each year, one should make the supreme birth offering; and in other months, on the day when the birth star and full moon coincide, as well.

मेलनेचशनेर्वापितावत्साहस्रमाचरेत् जन्मनैवेद्यदानेनजन्मार्पणफलंलभेत्

At gatherings, during meals, or at the sowing of seeds, one should perform the birth offering a thousand times; by giving the birth offering, one attains the fruit of dedicating one's birth.

जन्मार्पणाच्छिवः प्रीतिःस्वसायुज्यंददातिहि इदंतज्जन्मनैवेद्यंशिवस्यैवप्रदापयेत्

By dedicating one's birth, Shiva is pleased and grants union with himself; this birth offering should be presented only to Shiva.

योनिलिंगस्वरूपेणशिवोजन्मानिरूपकः तस्माज्जन्मनिवृत्त्यर्थंजन्म पूजा शिवस्य हि

Shiva, in the form of the yoni and linga, is the determiner of birth; therefore, to bring about release from birth, the worship of Shiva's birth is indeed prescribed.

बिंदुनादात्मकंसर्वंजगत्स्थावरजंगमम् बिंदुःशक्तिःशिवोनादःशिवशक्त्यात्मकंजगत्

All the world, both moving and unmoving, is composed of bindu and nada; bindu is Shakti, Shiva is nada, and the universe is of the nature of Shiva and Shakti.

नादाधारमिदंबिंदुर्बिंद्वाधारमिदं जगत् जगदाधारभूतौहिबिंदुनादौ व्यवस्थितौ

This bindu is the support of nada, and nada is the support of bindu; the world is established upon bindu and nada, which are the foundation of all existence.

विन्दुनादयुतंसर्वंसकलीकरणंभवेत् सकलीकरणाज्जन्मजगत्प्राप्नोत्यसंशयः

Everything endowed with bindu and nada becomes manifest; from this manifestation, the world is born—of this there is no doubt.

बिंदुनादात्मकंलिंगंजगत्कारणमुच्यते बिंदुर्देर्वीशिवोनादःशिवलिंगंतुकथ्यते

The linga, composed of bindu and nada, is said to be the cause of the world; bindu is Devi, Shiva is nada, and the Shiva-linga is thus described.

तस्माज्जन्मनिवृत्त्यर्थंशिवलिंगंप्रपूजयेत् मातादेवीबिंदुरूपानादरूपः शिवः पिता

Therefore, to bring about release from birth, one should worship the Shiva-linga; the mother, Devi, is of the form of bindu, and the father, Shiva, is of the form of nada.

पूजिताभ्यांपितृभ्यांतुपरमानंद एव हि परमानंदलाभार्थंशिवलिंगंप्रपूजयेत्

When both parents are worshipped, supreme bliss is indeed attained; for the sake of attaining this supreme bliss, one should worship the Shiva-linga.

सादेवीजगतांमातासशिवोजगतः पिता पित्रोः शुश्रूषकेनित्यंकृपाधिक्यं हि वर्धते

Devi is the mother of all worlds, and Shiva is the father of the universe; by always serving both parents, compassion increases greatly.