Shloka 143
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
नमस्कारं ततः कुर्यात्प्रदक्षिणमितीरितम् । निर्गमाज्जननं प्राप्तं नमस्त्वात्मसमर्पणम्
namaskāraṃ tataḥ kuryātpradakṣiṇamitīritam | nirgamājjananaṃ prāptaṃ namastvātmasamarpaṇam
Then one should perform prostration (namaskāra), and also the rite known as circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā). Having come forth from the womb and attained birth, one should offer obeisance—this ‘namas’ is the surrender of one’s very self (ātman) to Śiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: In the Kāśī-viśveśvara setting, namaskāra and pradakṣiṇā are framed not merely as etiquette but as ātma-samarpaṇa—handing over one’s limited selfhood to the Lord of the universe.
Significance: Prostration and circumambulation are taught as direct bhakti-yoga that ripens into surrender (śaraṇāgati), preparing the soul for Śiva’s grace.
Mantra: namaḥ (understood as the act/word of salutation)
FAQs
It teaches that namaskāra is not mere etiquette but ātma-samarpaṇa—offering the limited self (paśu) to Pati (Śiva). Pradakṣiṇā expresses placing Śiva at the center of one’s life and turning one’s actions toward liberation.
In Linga-pūjā, bowing and circumambulation are core upacāras offered to Saguna Śiva as the Linga. Through these outward acts, the devotee internalizes devotion and surrender, which Shaiva Siddhanta treats as a direct means for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).
Perform pradakṣiṇā around the Śiva-liṅga and then namaskāra with the inner resolve of self-surrender. Mentally align the act with ‘namaḥ’—letting go of ego and offering oneself to Śiva (often accompanied by japa of Om Namaḥ Śivāya).