Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 93
एवं सर्वं च तद्द्रव्यं वामतः संन्यसेद्भवात् । ततो बहिर्विनिष्क्रम्य पूजयेत्प्रतिहारकान्
evaṃ sarvaṃ ca taddravyaṃ vāmataḥ saṃnyasedbhavāt | tato bahirviniṣkramya pūjayetpratihārakān
આ રીતે તે સર્વ દ્રવ્ય ભગવાન ભવ (શિવ)ની ડાબી બાજુ મૂકવું. પછી બહાર જઈ પ્રતિહારકો (દ્વારપાલ સેવકો)ની પૂજા કરવી।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Type: temple
Scene: Inside the sanctum, offerings are placed to Śiva’s left; then the devotee steps out to the doorway and offers flowers/incense to the stern yet protective door-keepers.
FAQs
Sacred order matters: honor Śiva’s space and also respect the divine attendants who guard the threshold of the holy.
No specific tīrtha is named; it describes general temple protocol applicable across Śaiva sacred sites.
Place the prepared worship materials to Śiva’s left, then go out and worship the pratihārakas (door-keepers/attendants).