Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
गणेशाभिषेक-वरदान-विधानम् | Gaṇeśa’s Consecration, Boons, and Prescribed Worship
मार्गशीर्षे तथा मासे रमा या वै चतुर्थिका । प्रातःस्नानं तदा कृत्वा व्रतं विप्रान्निवेदयेत
mārgaśīrṣe tathā māse ramā yā vai caturthikā | prātaḥsnānaṃ tadā kṛtvā vrataṃ viprānnivedayeta
Pada bulan Mārgaśīrṣa, pada hari bulan keempat yang dikenali sebagai Ramā (Caturthī), hendaklah seseorang bangun dan mandi pada waktu fajar; setelah menyucikan diri, hendaklah ia menurut aturan mempersembahkan dan memaklumkan vrata beserta persembahannya kepada para brāhmaṇa, agar nazar itu disucikan dan berbuah dalam pemujaan kepada Dewa Śiva.
Suta Goswami (narrating the vrata-vidhi to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Significance: Highlights vrata-sanskāra logic: purification (snāna) and legitimization through vipra-sannidhi/dāna make the observance ‘fruit-bearing’ for Śiva’s favor.
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that a Śaiva vow becomes spiritually effective when grounded in purification (dawn bath) and consecrated through respectful offering to the learned, aligning personal discipline with dharma and devotion to Pati (Śiva).
The verse gives preparatory discipline for Saguna worship—purity, timing (tithi), and proper religious offering—so that Linga-pūjā and vrata-sankalpa are performed in a sanctified, tradition-aligned manner.
Perform an early morning bath on Ramā Caturthī in Mārgaśīrṣa, then formally undertake the vrata and offer its due to brāhmaṇas; this supports a Śaiva routine that can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during the observance.