Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
अलंकृत्य सुवेषं च गंधस्रग्वस्त्रभूषणैः । पुण्याहं वाचयित्वा च ब्राह्मणानभिपूज्य च । समुद्रतीरे नद्यां च गोष्ठे देवालये ऽपि वा । शुचौ देशे गृहे वापि काले सिद्धिकरे तिथौ
alaṃkṛtya suveṣaṃ ca gaṃdhasragvastrabhūṣaṇaiḥ | puṇyāhaṃ vācayitvā ca brāhmaṇānabhipūjya ca | samudratīre nadyāṃ ca goṣṭhe devālaye 'pi vā | śucau deśe gṛhe vāpi kāle siddhikare tithau
Nachdem man sich geschmückt hat—wohlgekleidet, mit Duftsalben bestrichen, mit Girlande, in reinen Gewändern und Schmuck—soll man das glückverheißende Ritual (puṇyāha) rezitieren lassen und die Brahmanen gebührend ehren. Dann, am Meeresufer, an einem Fluss, in einem Kuhstall oder in einem Tempel—oder an jedem reinen Ort, selbst zu Hause—zur Zeit und am tithi, die förderlich für Siddhi sind, soll man die Verehrung Śivas zur geistigen Vollendung beginnen.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that outer purity (clean dress, fragrance, orderly conduct) and inner sanctity (honoring brāhmaṇas, choosing a pure place and auspicious time) support focused Śiva-upāsanā, helping the devotee progress toward siddhi and ultimately liberation under Pati (Śiva).
The verse frames the proper setting for Saguna Śiva worship—typically centered on the Śiva-liṅga—showing that liṅga-pūjā can be performed not only in temples but also at home or other pure locations when done with reverence, purity, and right observances.
It suggests preparatory observances: personal adornment and cleanliness, arranging a puṇyāha recitation, honoring brāhmaṇas, and selecting a pure place and auspicious tithi—then commencing Śiva-pūjā (often with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī, if prescribed in the surrounding context).