Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34
अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः
Agnikārya and Homa Procedure
प्रायश्चित्ताय जुहुयान्मंत्रयित्वाहुतित्रयम् । ततो होमविशिष्टेन घृतेनापूर्य वै स्रुचम्
prāyaścittāya juhuyānmaṃtrayitvāhutitrayam | tato homaviśiṣṭena ghṛtenāpūrya vai srucam
Zur Sühne (prāyaścitta) soll man, nachdem man sie durch Mantra geheiligt hat, drei Opfergaben in das heilige Feuer darbringen. Dann fülle man die Opferkelle (sruva) mit Ghee, das durch die Homa besonders geweiht ist, und fahre mit dem Ritus fort.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Frames prāyaścitta (expiation) as a Śaiva path of purification: the bound soul (paśu) reduces pāśa (bondage) through mantra-sanctified action and Śiva’s grace.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that impurities (pāśa) are loosened through disciplined prayāścitta—mantra-guided offerings that purify the devotee’s intention and restore alignment with Shiva (Pati) as the inner witness of all rites.
Although it describes a Vedic-style homa, the act is ultimately an offering to Shiva as Saguna—approached through mantra and sacred fire—preparing the devotee for steadier Linga-worship by cleansing faults and renewing śiva-bhakti.
A brief prayāścitta homa: chant the appropriate mantra, offer three oblations, then continue using ghee sanctified by the rite—emphasizing mantra-smarana and purity of offering as the core discipline.