आवरणपूजावर्णनम् (Āvaraṇa-pūjā-varṇanam) — Description of Enclosure/Layered Worship
पूज्यं पुनस्समभ्यर्च्य सार्थं नामाष्टकं जपेत् । तदेव शृणु देवेशि संब्रुवे तव भक्तितः
pūjyaṃ punassamabhyarcya sārthaṃ nāmāṣṭakaṃ japet | tadeva śṛṇu deveśi saṃbruve tava bhaktitaḥ
ふたたび礼拝すべき主をしかるべく恭敬して供養し、意義深き八つの御名(ナーマーシュタカ)を唱えるべきである。その讃歌そのものを聞き給え、 देवेशि(女神にして諸天の王妃)よ—汝への信愛ゆえに、我はこれを宣べよう。
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Significance: Establishes a liturgical transmission: Śiva teaches Devī the nāmāṣṭaka for japa—an archetype for guru-to-śiṣya bestowal of name-mantra leading to grace.
Type: stotra
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
It teaches the Shaiva path of devotion: after pūjā, one should perform nāma-japa—repeating Shiva’s sacred names with understanding—so the mind becomes steady in Pati (Śiva) and turns away from pāśa (bondage).
The verse places mantra and name-recitation immediately after worship, indicating that Saguna upāsanā (pūjā to the worship-worthy Lord, often as the Liṅga) is completed and deepened by japa, where the devotee internalizes the deity’s presence through sound and meaning.
Repeat a meaningful Nāmāṣṭaka after performing worship—i.e., complete the external rite with internal recollection (japa). This is a direct instruction for mantra-based devotion and contemplative remembrance.