Adhyaya 79 — Bhakti-Mahima and Linga-Archana-Vidhi
Condensed Ritual Sequence
रोचनाद्यैश् च सम्पूज्य दिव्यपुष्पैश् च पूजयेत् बिल्वपत्रैरखण्डैश् च पद्मैर्नानाविधैस् तथा
rocanādyaiś ca sampūjya divyapuṣpaiś ca pūjayet bilvapatrairakhaṇḍaiś ca padmairnānāvidhais tathā
بعد إتمام التكريم بروتشَنا (rocanā) وما شابهها من الأدهان المقدّسة، فليُعبَد بالزهور السماوية؛ وكذلك تُقدَّم أوراق البِلفا غير الممزّقة ولوتسات شتّى الأنواع—خدمةً زهريةً لِـ«پَتي»، الربّ الذي يفكّ pāśa (قيد) الـpaśu (النفس المقيّدة).
Suta Goswami (narrating Linga-puja procedure to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It specifies key upacāras (offerings)—sacred unguents, divine flowers, unbroken bilva leaves, and lotuses—showing that careful, pure materials are integral to Linga-puja and to approaching Pashupati (Shiva) with reverence.
By centering worship on the Linga and offerings made with purity and wholeness (akhaṇḍa), the verse points to Shiva as Pati—transcendent yet accessible through symbol and rite—who receives devotion and grants loosening of pasha (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul).
A concrete puja-vidhi is highlighted: anointing with rocanā-like substances and offering flowers, especially unbroken bilva leaves and lotuses—an external discipline that supports inner Pāśupata orientation toward purity, steadiness, and devotion.