उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः
एवं सम्पूज्य विधिवद् यथाशक्ति त्ववञ्चयन् आददीत गुरोर्मन्त्रं ज्ञानं चैव क्रमेण तु
evaṃ sampūjya vidhivad yathāśakti tvavañcayan ādadīta gurormantraṃ jñānaṃ caiva krameṇa tu
このように、規定の作法に従い、力の及ぶかぎり欺きなく師(グル)を供養したのち、師より—順を追って—マントラと解脱へ導く智を受け取るべきである。
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shaiva discipline as taught in the Linga Purana tradition)
It establishes that Linga-puja becomes spiritually effective when grounded in sincere Guru-upasana and proper initiation—receiving mantra and right knowledge without deceit and according to dharmic procedure.
Shiva-tattva is approached through a transmitted path: mantra (upaya) and jnana (tattva-bodha). The verse implies Shiva as Pati (Lord) is realized by the Pashu (soul) through ordered instruction that removes Pasha (bondage).
Guru-puja followed by mantra-grahana (initiation/receiving the mantra) and gradual imparting of jnana—an initiatory, stepwise discipline aligned with Pashupata-oriented Shaiva sadhana.