Maṇḍala–Pūjā–Homa Krama
Maṇḍala Worship and Homa Sequence for the Disciple
वागीश्वरीपूजनांतं कुर्याद्धोमपुरस्सरम् । अथ प्रणम्य वागीशं निवृत्तेर्व्यापिकां सतीम्
vāgīśvarīpūjanāṃtaṃ kuryāddhomapurassaram | atha praṇamya vāgīśaṃ nivṛttervyāpikāṃ satīm
He should complete the worship of Vāgīśvarī, preceded by offerings into the sacred fire (homa). Then, bowing down to Vāgīśa—Satī, the virtuous Power that pervades the path of withdrawal (nivṛtti)—he should proceed in reverent devotion.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: homa
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
Offering: dhupa
It links outer rite (homa and pūjā) with inner liberation: Vāgīśvarī, as the sanctifying power of sacred speech/mantra, is honored as pervading nivṛtti—the inward turning that culminates in freedom from pāśa (bondage) and steadiness in Pati (Śiva).
In Shaiva practice, homa and pūjā are supportive limbs of saguna-upāsanā that purify the mind and speech; purified mantra (vāk) becomes fit to contemplate Śiva’s presence—whether in the Liṅga as the accessible form or as the transcendent Lord realized through the nivṛtti orientation.
Perform the worship to completion with homa as a preparatory act, then offer prostration and enter a contemplative mood aligned with nivṛtti—restraining speech into mantra-japa and inner recollection, treating sacred speech as a śakti that carries the mind toward Śiva.