Adhyaya 44: Nandikesvara’s Manifestation and Abhisheka; The Rule of Namaskara in Shiva-Nama
तस्मात्सर्वप्रकारेण नमस्कारादिमुच्चरेत् आदौ कुर्यान्नमस्कारं तदन्ते शिवतां व्रजेत्
tasmātsarvaprakāreṇa namaskārādimuccaret ādau kuryānnamaskāraṃ tadante śivatāṃ vrajet
ゆえに、あらゆる場合にまず敬礼の言葉を唱えるべきである。初めにナマスカーラを行い、終わりもまた帰依をもってそのように結ぶなら、パーシュ(魂)はパーシャ(束縛)を超えるパティに近づき、シヴァの境地へと至る。
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-oriented observances to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It establishes namaskāra as the essential opening act of Śiva-pūjā—setting the devotee’s bhāva (reverent orientation) so the worship becomes a means for the paśu to approach Pati rather than a merely external rite.
Śiva-tattva is presented as the attainable “śivatā” (Śiva-hood/auspicious state): nearness and conformity to Śiva through devotion, implying release from pāśa (bondage) and alignment with the Lord’s auspicious consciousness.
The practice is namaskāra—verbal and bodily salutation—performed at the beginning (and implicitly as a framing act of the rite), functioning as a devotional discipline supportive of Pāśupata-oriented purification and surrender.