Adhyaya 79 — Bhakti-Mahima and Linga-Archana-Vidhi
Condensed Ritual Sequence
दध्ना च स्नापयेद्रुद्रं शोधयेच्च यथाविधि ततः शुद्धांबुना स्नाप्य चन्दनाद्यैश् च पूजयेत्
dadhnā ca snāpayedrudraṃ śodhayecca yathāvidhi tataḥ śuddhāṃbunā snāpya candanādyaiś ca pūjayet
พึงสรงพระรุทระด้วยนมเปรี้ยว และชำระให้ถูกต้องตามพิธี; แล้วสรงด้วยน้ำบริสุทธิ์ จากนั้นบูชาด้วยจันทน์และเครื่องสักการะอื่น ๆ
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It lays out a sequential puja-krama: abhiṣeka with curd, ritual purification as per vidhi, then final bathing with pure water and worship with sandal and allied upacāras—showing that śuddhi (purity) is central to liṅga-pūjā.
Rudra is approached as Pati—the supreme Lord who is worshipped through regulated rites; the emphasis on purification points to Shiva-tattva as the purifier of pasha (bondage) and the sanctifier of the pashu (soul) through disciplined devotion.
Ablution (abhiṣeka) and śodhana according to vidhi are highlighted; in a Pāśupata lens, the outer cleansing mirrors inner śodhana—purifying intention, senses, and mind before offering upacāras to the Lord.