Shloka 150
उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः
अग्नौ न तापयेत्पादौ हस्तं पद्भ्यां न संस्पृशेत् अग्नेर्नोच्छ्रयम् आसीत नाग्नौ किंचिन् मलं त्यजेत्
agnau na tāpayetpādau hastaṃ padbhyāṃ na saṃspṛśet agnernocchrayam āsīta nāgnau kiṃcin malaṃ tyajet
One should not warm the feet in the sacred fire, nor touch the hands with the feet. One should not sit with the body raised above the fire, and one should never cast any impurity or refuse into the fire. Thus the fire is to be honored as a pure ritual presence in the worship of Pati, Śiva.
Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic ritual conduct to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
FAQs
It teaches āchāra (ritual discipline): Agni used in Śaiva rites must be treated as a pure, divine medium, so disrespectful acts (warming feet, contaminating it, or improper posture) are prohibited to preserve the sanctity of Linga-pūjā.
By insisting on purity and reverence toward Agni as a sacred presence, the verse implies that worship is directed to Pati (Śiva) through consecrated means; discipline in externals supports recognition of Śiva as the supremely pure reality beyond mala (impurity).
Ritual purity (śauca) and respectful conduct around the consecrated fire—practices that stabilize the sādhaka’s mind and support Pāśupata-oriented worship and self-restraint.