Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā
पूजयेद्भोजनाद्यैश्च पंच वा दश वा शतम् । धने देहे च मंत्रे च भावनायामवंचकः
pūjayedbhojanādyaiśca paṃca vā daśa vā śatam | dhane dehe ca maṃtre ca bhāvanāyāmavaṃcakaḥ
فليعبد (شِيفا) بتقديم القرابين كالغذاء ونحوه—سواء كانت خمسًا أو عشرًا أو حتى مئة. وفي المال، وفي سلوك الجسد، وفي ممارسة المانترا، وفي التأمّل الباطني، ليكن منزّهًا عن الخداع.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: General tīrtha/temple ethic: sincerity (avañcakatā) in offerings and mantra is itself an offering that makes worship efficacious.
Offering: naivedya
It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is validated by integrity: offerings may be few or many, but liberation-oriented devotion requires non-deceit in one’s resources, conduct, mantra-japa, and inner intention.
In Linga/Saguṇa worship, external upacāras like naivedya are meaningful only when matched by truthful bhāva; the verse links ritual offering to inner sincerity, making the Linga-pūjā a complete act of devotion.
Offer naivedya (food and related items) in measured sets (five/ten/hundred as capacity allows) and perform mantra-japa with honest intention, maintaining purity in bodily discipline and steady bhāvanā (contemplative focus on Śiva).