Shloka 53
प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva
ततः स्नात्वा यथा पूर्वं श्रपयित्वा चरुं ततः । पौरुषं सूक्तमारभ्य विरजान्तं हुनेद्बुधः
tataḥ snātvā yathā pūrvaṃ śrapayitvā caruṃ tataḥ | pauruṣaṃ sūktamārabhya virajāntaṃ hunedbudhaḥ
ततः पूर्वोक्तविधिना स्नात्वा चरुं सम्यक् श्रपयित्वा ततः। पौरुषसूक्तमारभ्य विरजान्तं यावत् बुद्धिमान् शिवभक्तोऽग्नौ हविर्हुयात्॥
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadyojāta
Type: rudram
Role: creative
FAQs
It emphasizes inner and outer purity—bath, disciplined preparation, and mantra-guided offering—showing that devotion to Shiva is strengthened when worship is performed with order (vidhi) and clarity of intention, supporting liberation-oriented Shaiva practice.
Though the verse speaks of homa with Vedic hymns, its intent aligns with Saguna Shiva worship: offerings and mantras become a means to approach Shiva as the gracious Lord (Pati) who accepts ritual devotion and elevates the bound soul (paśu).
A fire-offering (homa) using cooked caru, performed after ritual bathing, with recitation beginning from the Pauruṣa Sūkta and proceeding to the Virajā-ending portion—i.e., mantra-led oblations as a focused devotional discipline.