Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 93
एवं सर्वं च तद्द्रव्यं वामतः संन्यसेद्भवात् । ततो बहिर्विनिष्क्रम्य पूजयेत्प्रतिहारकान्
evaṃ sarvaṃ ca taddravyaṃ vāmataḥ saṃnyasedbhavāt | tato bahirviniṣkramya pūjayetpratihārakān
अशा रीतीने सर्व द्रव्य भगवान् भव (शिव) यांच्या डाव्या बाजूस ठेवावे. नंतर बाहेर जाऊन प्रतिहारक (द्वारपाल) यांची पूजा करावी।
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Type: temple
Scene: Inside the sanctum, offerings are placed to Śiva’s left; then the devotee steps out to the doorway and offers flowers/incense to the stern yet protective door-keepers.
FAQs
Sacred order matters: honor Śiva’s space and also respect the divine attendants who guard the threshold of the holy.
No specific tīrtha is named; it describes general temple protocol applicable across Śaiva sacred sites.
Place the prepared worship materials to Śiva’s left, then go out and worship the pratihārakas (door-keepers/attendants).