Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12
काम्यकर्मविभागः — Taxonomy of Kāmya (Desire-Motivated) Śaiva Rites
सुप्रलिप्ते महीपृष्ठे दर्पणोदरसंनिभे । प्राचीमुत्पादयेत्पूर्वं शास्त्रदृष्टेन वर्त्मना
supralipte mahīpṛṣṭhe darpaṇodarasaṃnibhe | prācīmutpādayetpūrvaṃ śāstradṛṣṭena vartmanā
On a well-smeared, evenly prepared earthen surface—smooth like the inside of a mirror—one should first establish the eastern direction, following the method laid down in the scriptures.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It emphasizes śāstra-vidhi—worship becomes spiritually fruitful when the devotee prepares a pure, orderly space and aligns actions with scriptural discipline, expressing devotion through right method.
Linga worship is traditionally performed in a consecrated, properly oriented ritual space; establishing the eastern direction is part of preparing the adhivāsa/altar environment where Saguna Shiva is invoked and honored through prescribed rites.
Prepare a clean, smooth ritual ground (maṇḍala/vedi area) and first determine the east according to scripture before commencing puja—an instruction relevant to setting up a linga, maṇḍala drawing, and formal worship.