Shloka 58
पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्
Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon
दिग्गजानां च नागानां सेतुपानां च पूजनम् । त्र्यंबकस्य च रुद्रस्य विष्णोः पापहरस्य च
diggajānāṃ ca nāgānāṃ setupānāṃ ca pūjanam | tryaṃbakasya ca rudrasya viṣṇoḥ pāpaharasya ca
Worship is to be offered to the guardian elephants of the directions, to the nāgas, and to the protectors of sacred causeways; and likewise to Tryambaka—Rudra Himself—and also to Viṣṇu, the remover of sins.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Tryambaka
FAQs
It teaches a dharmic, integrated form of worship: honoring cosmic guardians (diggajas, nāgas, and protectors of sacred crossings) while ultimately centering devotion on Tryambaka-Rudra, with even Viṣṇu acknowledged as a purifier—supporting inner and outer purification on the path to Śiva’s grace.
By naming Tryambaka and Rudra explicitly, the verse supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—worship of the manifest Lord (often through the Liṅga). The auxiliary worship of guardians is preparatory and harmonizing, but the spiritual center remains Rudra/Śiva as the supreme refuge in Shaiva Siddhānta.
A structured pūjā sequence is implied: offer respectful worship to directional guardians and nāgas (for protection and removal of obstacles), then perform primary Rudra/Śiva worship (Liṅga-arcana) with mantra-japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as the main meditative takeaway.