Shloka 81
गजाननपूजा तथा औपासन-होमविधिः
Worship of Gajānana and the Procedure of Aupāsana-Homa
कर्म्मारम्भात्पूर्वमेव गृहीत्वा गोमयं शुभम् । स्थूलामलकमात्रेण कृत्वा पिण्डान्विशोषयेत
karmmārambhātpūrvameva gṛhītvā gomayaṃ śubham | sthūlāmalakamātreṇa kṛtvā piṇḍānviśoṣayeta
Before beginning the rite, one should first take auspicious cow-dung and, forming it into pellets about the size of a large āmalaka fruit, should dry those lumps well.
Suta Goswami (narrating Śiva’s ritual injunctions to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-pūjā begins with śauca (purity) and careful preparation; disciplined outer cleanliness supports inner steadiness (bhakti and one-pointedness) toward Pati (Śiva), helping loosen pāśa (bondage).
In Saguna worship of Śiva as the Liṅga, materials used in the rite must be purified and properly prepared; the verse gives a practical rule for preparing a clean, auspicious substance used in traditional worship contexts connected with purification and later sacred applications.
A preparatory ritual practice: make cow-dung pellets of a specified size and dry them before starting worship—supporting orderly pūjā and the broader Shaiva discipline associated with purity practices (often alongside bhasma/tripuṇḍra and mantra-japa where applicable).