Shloka 21
Maṇḍala–Pūjā–Homa Krama
Maṇḍala Worship and Homa Sequence for the Disciple
निवृत्त्या शुद्धमुद्धृत्य शिष्यात्मानं यथा पुरा । निवेश्यात्मनि सूत्रे च वागीशं पूजयेत्ततः
nivṛttyā śuddhamuddhṛtya śiṣyātmānaṃ yathā purā | niveśyātmani sūtre ca vāgīśaṃ pūjayettataḥ
Then, through withdrawal (nivṛtti), having purified and uplifted the disciple’s self as before, and having established it within the Self and also upon the sacred thread, one should thereafter worship Vāgīśa, the Lord of speech.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that Shaiva worship is not merely external: the disciple’s consciousness must be purified through nivṛtti (turning inward from worldly bonds) and established in the Self, and only then is worship of Śiva fruitful—aligning with the Siddhānta emphasis on Pati (Śiva) liberating the bound soul (paśu) from pāśa.
The verse presents the inner prerequisite to saguna-upāsanā: after inward establishment, one worships Śiva (here as Vāgīśa). In Linga worship too, the outer act is supported by inner recollection—placing awareness in the Self so the ritual becomes a vehicle for Śiva’s grace rather than a mere formality.
A meditative withdrawal (pratyāhāra-like nivṛtti), purification, and inner installation (nyāsa/bhāvanā) of the disciple’s awareness—followed by worship of Śiva as Vāgīśa; the mention of “sūtra” suggests a rite connected with the sacred thread and disciplined mantra-recitation.