Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58
द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)
रामश्चान्यतमः कृष्णो भवानश्वमुखोपि च । तृतीयावरणे चक्रुः पूर्वभागे समर्चयेत्
rāmaścānyatamaḥ kṛṣṇo bhavānaśvamukhopi ca | tṛtīyāvaraṇe cakruḥ pūrvabhāge samarcayet
तृतीय आवरणात राम, श्रेष्ठ कृष्ण, भवान आणि अश्वमुख—यांना पूर्वभागी स्थापून विधिपूर्वक सम्यक् पूजन करावे.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; continues the āvaraṇa placement in a ritual maṇḍala, specifying deities in the third enclosure and their directional sector (east).
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that worship of Śiva is not random but ordered: the devotee approaches the Pati (Lord) through a sacred, structured maṇḍala with successive enclosures, honoring associated divine powers and exemplars as part of a disciplined path toward grace.
Avarana-worship supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā: the Liṅga (or central Śiva-form) is honored along with arranged attendant deities in specific directions, expressing that all divine functions are harmonized around Śiva as the supreme Pati.
It indicates avarana-pūjā: place and worship specific deities in the third enclosure, especially in the eastern sector, with reverent offerings; this can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while maintaining directional focus and purity of worship.