Shloka 22
शिवध्यानपूजनवर्णनम्
Description of Śiva Meditation and Worship
एवन्ध्यात्वाऽथ गंधाद्यैरुपचारैरनुक्रमात् । संपूज्य पूर्वद्वारस्य दक्षशाखामुपाश्रितम्
evandhyātvā'tha gaṃdhādyairupacārairanukramāt | saṃpūjya pūrvadvārasya dakṣaśākhāmupāśritam
एवं ध्यात्वा ततः गन्धाद्यैः उपचारैः अनुक्रमात् । पूर्वद्वारे दक्षिणशाखामुपाश्रितं तं सम्यक् संपूजयेत् ॥
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Significance: Emphasizes the Siddhāntic sequence: dhyāna → upacāra → arcana, aligning the bound soul (paśu) to receive Śiva’s grace (anugraha) through correct ritual order.
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that worship of Shiva should begin with dhyāna (inner recollection) and then proceed through orderly upacāras, showing that outer ritual is meant to be grounded in inward devotion and discipline.
By prescribing gandha and other services in sequence, the verse points to saguna-upāsanā—reverent, tangible offerings to Shiva (often as the Liṅga) as a means to steady the mind and mature bhakti toward Pati (Lord Shiva).
First perform dhyāna of Shiva, then offer upacāras such as sandal paste/fragrance and related services in proper order, focusing attention on the sanctified directions/locations of the shrine (here, the eastern entrance and its southern side).