उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः
अग्नौ न तापयेत्पादौ हस्तं पद्भ्यां न संस्पृशेत् अग्नेर्नोच्छ्रयम् आसीत नाग्नौ किंचिन् मलं त्यजेत्
agnau na tāpayetpādau hastaṃ padbhyāṃ na saṃspṛśet agnernocchrayam āsīta nāgnau kiṃcin malaṃ tyajet
పవిత్ర అగ్నిలో పాదాలను వేడిచేయకూడదు; పాదాలతో చేతిని తాకకూడదు. అగ్నికి మించి ఎత్తుగా కూర్చోకూడదు; అగ్నిలో ఏ మలినమూ వేయకూడదు।
Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic ritual conduct to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
It teaches āchāra (ritual discipline): Agni used in Śaiva rites must be treated as a pure, divine medium, so disrespectful acts (warming feet, contaminating it, or improper posture) are prohibited to preserve the sanctity of Linga-pūjā.
By insisting on purity and reverence toward Agni as a sacred presence, the verse implies that worship is directed to Pati (Śiva) through consecrated means; discipline in externals supports recognition of Śiva as the supremely pure reality beyond mala (impurity).
Ritual purity (śauca) and respectful conduct around the consecrated fire—practices that stabilize the sādhaka’s mind and support Pāśupata-oriented worship and self-restraint.