Shloka 25
अग्नियज्ञ-देवयज्ञ-ब्रह्मयज्ञ-गुरुपूजा-क्रमनिरूपणम् / Ordering and Definitions of Agniyajña, Devayajña, Brahmayajña, and Guru-Pūjā
उत्तरोत्तरवैशिष्ट्यात्पूर्वाभावे तथोत्तरम् । नेत्रयोः शिरसो रोगे तथा कुष्ठस्य शांतये
uttarottaravaiśiṣṭyātpūrvābhāve tathottaram | netrayoḥ śiraso roge tathā kuṣṭhasya śāṃtaye
പിന്നത്തെത് ക്രമേണ കൂടുതൽ വിശിഷ്ടമാണ്; അതിനാൽ മുൻപത്തത് ലഭ്യമല്ലെങ്കിൽ പിന്നത്തത് സ്വീകരിക്കണം. ഇത് കണ്ണിന്റെയും തലയുടെ രോഗശാന്തിക്കും, കുഷ്ഠശമനത്തിനും വിധിച്ചതാണ്.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Vaidyanātha
Jyotirlinga: Vaidyanātha
Sthala Purana: Śiva as the supreme healer (vaidya) removes afflictions when approached through proper upāsanā; the verse’s disease-pacification theme resonates with the Vaidyanātha-kṣetra healing motif (though not explicitly naming the jyotirliṅga here).
Significance: Sought for relief from illness and for purification; emphasizes graded substitutes in worship when ideal means are unavailable.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches a Shaiva principle of disciplined continuity: when an ideal observance cannot be performed, one should not abandon worship, but follow the next-best prescribed alternative—maintaining devotion to Pati (Shiva) and the purifying power of right practice.
The verse supports sustained Saguna Shiva worship through practical substitution: offerings or observances connected to Linga-puja are arranged in an order of excellence, so the devotee can continue honoring Shiva’s manifest form even amid constraints.
It implies following a graded set of Shaiva remedies/observances—using the next prescribed option if the primary is unavailable—typically alongside steady mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara) and regular Shiva worship for purification and relief.