Śiva-Pūjākramaḥ — The Procedural Order of Shiva Worship
Pañcāvaraṇa & Upacāras
आपोशनं समर्प्याथ प्रार्थयेत्तानिदम्प्रति । सदाशिवादयः प्रीता वरदाश्च भवन्तु मे
āpośanaṃ samarpyātha prārthayettānidamprati | sadāśivādayaḥ prītā varadāśca bhavantu me
তাৰ পিছত বিধিমতে আপোশন অৰ্পণ কৰি, তেওঁলোকৰ প্ৰতি এইদৰে প্ৰাৰ্থনা কৰিব—“সদাশিৱ আদি দেৱগণ প্ৰসন্ন হওক আৰু মোৰ বাবে বৰদাতা হওক।”
Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed procedure/teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; it is a direct appeal for prasāda from Sadāśiva and the gaṇa/divine retinue ‘beginning with Him’ (ādya-parivāra).
Significance: Frames worship as petition for grace: pleasing Sadāśiva is the theological pivot for receiving boons (varada) and spiritual uplift.
Mantra: sadāśivādayaḥ prītā varadāś ca bhavantu me
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
It teaches that outer ritual purity (āpośana) should culminate in inner surrender: the devotee seeks Sadāśiva’s pleasure, because grace (anugraha) is the true source of spiritual fruition and liberation in Shaiva Siddhānta.
Āpośana and prayer are preparatory acts within Shiva-pūjā; through disciplined worship of Saguna Shiva (often via the Śiva-liṅga), the devotee invokes Sadāśiva’s benevolence, by which the mind becomes fit for realizing Shiva as the supreme Pati.
Perform āpośana (ritual water-sipping/offering) as a purification step, then offer a focused prayer for Sadāśiva’s satisfaction; as a meditative takeaway, align intention with devotion and recite Shiva-mantra (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī) with humility.