Shloka 25
अग्नियज्ञ-देवयज्ञ-ब्रह्मयज्ञ-गुरुपूजा-क्रमनिरूपणम् / Ordering and Definitions of Agniyajña, Devayajña, Brahmayajña, and Guru-Pūjā
उत्तरोत्तरवैशिष्ट्यात्पूर्वाभावे तथोत्तरम् । नेत्रयोः शिरसो रोगे तथा कुष्ठस्य शांतये
uttarottaravaiśiṣṭyātpūrvābhāve tathottaram | netrayoḥ śiraso roge tathā kuṣṭhasya śāṃtaye
Weil das jeweils Nachfolgende stufenweise vorzüglicher ist, soll man, wenn das Frühere nicht verfügbar ist, das Nächste wählen. Dies ist zur Linderung von Augen- und Kopfkrankheiten sowie zur Besänftigung von Aussatz (kuṣṭha) vorgeschrieben.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Vaidyanātha
Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha
Sthala Purana: Śiva as the supreme healer (vaidya) removes afflictions when approached through proper upāsanā; the verse’s disease-pacification theme resonates with the Vaidyanātha-kṣetra healing motif (though not explicitly naming the jyotirliṅga here).
Significance: Sought for relief from illness and for purification; emphasizes graded substitutes in worship when ideal means are unavailable.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches a Shaiva principle of disciplined continuity: when an ideal observance cannot be performed, one should not abandon worship, but follow the next-best prescribed alternative—maintaining devotion to Pati (Shiva) and the purifying power of right practice.
The verse supports sustained Saguna Shiva worship through practical substitution: offerings or observances connected to Linga-puja are arranged in an order of excellence, so the devotee can continue honoring Shiva’s manifest form even amid constraints.
It implies following a graded set of Shaiva remedies/observances—using the next prescribed option if the primary is unavailable—typically alongside steady mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara) and regular Shiva worship for purification and relief.