Shloka 109
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
तंतुना वेष्टितं कुंभं नवगुग्गुलधूपितम् । मध्ये स्थाप्य महाकुंभं तथा दिक्ष्वपि विन्यसेत्
taṃtunā veṣṭitaṃ kuṃbhaṃ navagugguladhūpitam | madhye sthāpya mahākuṃbhaṃ tathā dikṣvapi vinyaset
तन्तुना वेष्टितं कुम्भं नवगुग्गुलधूपितम् । मध्ये स्थाप्य महाकुम्भं तथा दिक्ष्वपि विन्यसेत् ॥
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva-pūjā procedure to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Significance: Kalaśa-sthāpana (central and directional pots) stabilizes the ritual field as a ‘held’ presence (sthiti), inviting Īśāna’s overseeing lordship into the consecrated space.
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It teaches ordered consecration: the central mahākumbha represents Śiva as Pati (the Lord) presiding over the rite, while the directional placement sanctifies space so worship becomes a complete, protected sacred field.
The kumbha functions as a consecrated support (ādhāra) for invoking Saguna Śiva’s presence during pūjā; the central placement mirrors the Linga’s role as the ritual and spiritual axis of the worship space.
A practical instruction is kalaśa-sthāpana with dik-vinyāsa: wrap the kumbha with a sacred thread, incense it with guggulu, place the main kumbha at the center, and set supporting kumbhas in the directions while maintaining mantra-focused reverence (e.g., Panchākṣarī).