उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः
एवं तुष्टो गुरुः शिष्यं पूजितं वत्सरोषितम् शुश्रूषुम् अनहङ्कारम् उपवासकृशं शुचिम्
evaṃ tuṣṭo guruḥ śiṣyaṃ pūjitaṃ vatsaroṣitam śuśrūṣum anahaṅkāram upavāsakṛśaṃ śucim
एवं तुष्टो गुरुः शिष्यं पूजितं वत्सरोषितम्। शुश्रूषुम् अनहङ्कारम् उपवासकृशं शुचिम्॥
Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages; describing an internal guru–disciple scene)
It establishes the inner qualifications that make Linga-puja fruitful: guru-honour, sustained service, purity, and ego-less discipline—preparing the paśu to receive Śiva’s grace (Pati-anugraha).
By implication, Śiva-tattva is accessed through purification and grace rather than mere external rites; the guru, as Śiva’s conduit, responds when the disciple becomes free from ahaṅkāra and fit for liberating knowledge.
Upavāsa (fasting) joined with śauca (purity) and guru-śuśrūṣā (service to the teacher)—a Pāśupata-leaning discipline that weakens pāśa (bondage) and strengthens receptivity to mantra, jñāna, and Śiva-puja.