Shloka 98
Daily Duties of Brāhmaṇas: Snāna, Sandhyā, Sūrya-hṛdaya, Japa, Tarpaṇa, and the Pañca-mahāyajñas
पुष्पैः पत्रैरथाद्भिर्वा चन्दनाद्यैर्महेश्वरम् / उक्त्वा नमः शिवायेति मन्त्रेणानेन योजयेत्
puṣpaiḥ patrairathādbhirvā candanādyairmaheśvaram / uktvā namaḥ śivāyeti mantreṇānena yojayet
மலர்கள், இலைகள் அல்லது நீர்—சந்தனம் முதலியவற்றுடன்—மகேஸ்வரனை வழிபட வேண்டும்; ‘நமః சிவாய’ என்று உச்சரித்து இதே மந்திரத்துடன் ஒவ்வொரு அர்ப்பணத்தையும் செய்ய வேண்டும்.
Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing sages on Śiva-upāsanā and mantra-vidhi (Śaiva–Vaiṣṇava synthesis).
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
By directing worship to Maheśvara through the pañcākṣarī “namaḥ śivāya,” the verse implies a single supreme Lord approachable through mantra and devotion—pointing to the Atman’s orientation toward Īśvara as the inner ruler (antaryāmin) rather than mere external ritual.
It emphasizes mantra-yoga in pūjā: each offering (flower, leaf, water, sandalwood) is to be ‘joined’ with the mantra, training attention (ekāgratā) and devotional absorption (bhāva) through repeated japa synchronized with ritual action.
With Lord Kūrma teaching Śiva-mantra worship, the Purāṇa presents a harmonizing theology: devotion to Śiva is taught within a Vaiṣṇava narrative voice, reinforcing Śiva–Viṣṇu unity through shared dharma and upāsanā.