Shloka 21
गुरुत्व-परम्परा-शौचविधि-प्रश्नः
Questions on Guruhood, Lineage, and Purificatory Discipline
अभ्यर्च्य गन्धपुष्पाद्यैर्धूपदीपौ प्रदर्श्य च । संरक्षास्त्रेण तं शंखं वर्मणाथावगुण्ठयेत्
abhyarcya gandhapuṣpādyairdhūpadīpau pradarśya ca | saṃrakṣāstreṇa taṃ śaṃkhaṃ varmaṇāthāvaguṇṭhayet
சந்தனம், மலர் முதலியவற்றால் அர்ச்சித்து, தூபம் தீபம் காட்டிய பின், ஸம்ரக்ஷா-அஸ்திர மந்திரத்தால் அந்த சங்கினை காத்து, கவசத்தால் மறைத்துப் பாதுகாக்க வேண்டும்।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā teachings on Śaiva ritual to the sages)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Type: kavaca
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-pūjā is not only offering-based (flowers, incense, lamp) but also mantra-based: the worshipper safeguards the rite through saṃrakṣā-mantras, symbolizing inner purity and protection from distractions and impurity (pāśa).
The conch is a sanctified support-item within Saguna worship; by protecting it with kavaca and saṃrakṣāstra, the devotee ensures the external rite remains a worthy vessel for invoking Śiva’s presence in the Linga-pūjā.
Perform upacāras (gandha, puṣpa, dhūpa, dīpa) and then recite a protective mantra (kavaca/saṃrakṣā) while mentally ‘covering’ the implement—an outer act mirroring inner mantra-guarding of attention during worship.