Shloka 61
दशशैवव्रतप्रश्नः — Inquiry into the Ten Principal Śaiva Vratas
द्रव्यैः पूर्वैस्तथा पूजां कृत्वा धारां समर्पयेत् । पूर्वतो द्विगुणं मंत्रं समुच्चार्यार्चयेच्छिवम्
dravyaiḥ pūrvaistathā pūjāṃ kṛtvā dhārāṃ samarpayet | pūrvato dviguṇaṃ maṃtraṃ samuccāryārcayecchivam
Nachdem man die Verehrung mit den zuvor genannten Gaben vollzogen hat, soll man die dhārā, das ununterbrochene Ausgießen, darbringen. Danach, indem man das Mantra doppelt so oft wie zuvor rezitiert, verehre man Śiva in rechter Weise.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Emphasizes correct abhiṣeka (dhārā) and increased mantra-utterance as a means for Śiva’s prasāda (grace) in ritual worship.
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is completed through a disciplined sequence—offerings, then abhiṣeka as a steady dhārā, and intensified mantra-recitation—uniting outer ritual with inner devotion and focused awareness of Pati (Śiva).
The “dhārā” points directly to liṅga-abhiṣeka, where Saguna Śiva is approached through a tangible form. The increased mantra-japa sanctifies the act, making the liṅga-worship a concentrated means to invoke Śiva’s grace.
Perform offerings first, then do continuous abhiṣeka (dhārā) to the liṅga, while doubling the mantra recitation—commonly aligned with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as a focused japa during worship.