Adhyaya 74
शिवपूजाकथनम् (Śiva-pūjā-kathana) — The Exposition of Śiva Worship
After concluding the preceding Sun-worship section, this chapter sets forth Īśvara’s teaching on Śiva-pūjā as a strictly ordered ritual sequence. It begins with ācamana, arghya empowered by the praṇava, sprinkling the doorway with astrāmbu, and worship of the entrance guardians and related deities (Gaṇa, Sarasvatī, Lakṣmī; Nandī, Gaṅgā; Mahākāla, Yamunā). The practitioner enters the ritual area with prescribed bodily acts (heel-strikes, crossing the threshold, right-foot entry, support on the left doorpost), installs protective astra on the udumbara post, and worships Vāstu-adhipati Brahmā at the center. Water-vessels and materials are arranged; bhūtaśuddhi and subtle yogic procedures (prāṇāyāma, granthi-bheda, dvādaśānta, bindu contemplation) are performed; the elements are purified through maṇḍala visualizations and bīja-mantras (earth, water, fire, air, space); and the heart-seat for invocation is established. Sakalīkaraṇa and protections (astra perimeter, śakti-net, mahāmudrā) follow, leading to inner worship of Śiva in the heart-lotus and outer preparations of arghya, implements, and liṅga purification. The chapter details visualization of five-faced, ten-armed Śiva, nyāsa of mūla/śiras/śikhā/kavaca/astra mantras, and the full upacāra sequence including successive abhiṣekas. It concludes with āratī, bhoga offering, japa-offering, hymns, pradakṣiṇā, aṣṭāṅga prostration to Aṣṭamūrti Śiva, and continued worship through meditation and depicted forms (fire and others).
