Shloka 11
Śivarātri-vrata Udyāpana-vidhi
Completion Rite for the Śivarātri Observance
आचार्यं वरयेत्तत्र चर्त्विग्भिस्सहितं शुचिम् । अनुज्ञातश्च तैर्भक्त्या शिवपूजां समाचरेत्
ācāryaṃ varayettatra cartvigbhissahitaṃ śucim | anujñātaśca tairbhaktyā śivapūjāṃ samācaret
There, one should choose a pure ācārya (preceptor), accompanied by the priests (ṛtviks). Having received their permission with devotion, one should then perform the worship of Śiva with bhakti.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-pūjā becomes spiritually fruitful when done with purity, proper guidance (ācārya), and sincere bhakti—uniting right method (vidhi) with inner devotion.
The verse points to formal Śiva-pūjā performed under an ācārya’s direction, which typically includes saguna worship through the Śiva-liṅga with prescribed offerings, mantras, and consecrated procedure.
It emphasizes authorized, teacher-guided Shiva worship—i.e., performing pūjā according to injunctions with devotion; this commonly includes mantra-japa (often the Pañcākṣarī) and disciplined purity, though not named explicitly in this line.