Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31
पूजाविधिः
Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances
द्वारपालं सदा द्वारि तिष्ठंतं च महोदरम् । पूजयित्वा ततः पश्चात्पूजयेद्गिरिजां सतीम्
dvārapālaṃ sadā dvāri tiṣṭhaṃtaṃ ca mahodaram | pūjayitvā tataḥ paścātpūjayedgirijāṃ satīm
D’abord, il faut honorer Mahodara, le gardien de la porte, toujours vigilant, qui se tient au seuil. Ensuite, il convient d’adorer Satī, Girijā (la Fille de la Montagne), avec la révérence qui lui est due.
Sūta Gosvāmī
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches devotional discipline: honoring the threshold guardian before approaching the Goddess symbolizes removing obstacles, cultivating humility, and entering worship with purified intent—an essential Shaiva ethic of proper approach (ācāra) to the Divine.
In Saguna worship, order and reverence matter: one respects attendants and guardians connected to the deity’s abode before direct worship, reflecting the Shiva Purana’s temple-centered bhakti culture where Shiva’s divine circle (parivāra) is honored as part of approaching Pati (the Lord).
Follow pūjā-krama (sequence): offer salutations/flowers/incense at the doorway to the guardian first, then worship the Goddess; while entering, keep a devotional focus such as japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind and remove inner obstacles.