Shloka 21
गुरुत्व-परम्परा-शौचविधि-प्रश्नः
Questions on Guruhood, Lineage, and Purificatory Discipline
अभ्यर्च्य गन्धपुष्पाद्यैर्धूपदीपौ प्रदर्श्य च । संरक्षास्त्रेण तं शंखं वर्मणाथावगुण्ठयेत्
abhyarcya gandhapuṣpādyairdhūpadīpau pradarśya ca | saṃrakṣāstreṇa taṃ śaṃkhaṃ varmaṇāthāvaguṇṭhayet
गन्ध, पुष्प आदि से उसकी अर्चना करके तथा धूप-दीप दिखाकर, फिर सं-रक्षा-अस्त्र मंत्र से उस शंख की रक्षा करे और कवच से उसे आवृत (अवगुण्ठित) करे।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā teachings on Śaiva ritual to the sages)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: kavaca
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is not only offering-based (flowers, incense, lamp) but also mantra-based: the worshipper safeguards the rite through saṃrakṣā-mantras, symbolizing inner purity and protection from distractions and impurity (pāśa).
The conch is a sanctified support-item within Saguna worship; by protecting it with kavaca and saṃrakṣāstra, the devotee ensures the external rite remains a worthy vessel for invoking Śiva’s presence in the Linga-pūjā.
Perform upacāras (gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, dīpa) and then recite a protective mantra (kavaca/saṃrakṣā) while mentally ‘covering’ the implement—an outer act mirroring inner mantra-guarding of attention during worship.