Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 79
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
कृत्वा वैशेषिकीं पूजां हुत्वा चैव यथा पुरा । संपूज्य च तथाचार्यं व्रतिनश्च विशेषतः
kṛtvā vaiśeṣikīṃ pūjāṃ hutvā caiva yathā purā | saṃpūjya ca tathācāryaṃ vratinaśca viśeṣataḥ
เมื่อประกอบบูชาพิเศษตามกำหนด และถวายเครื่องบูชาในไฟศักดิ์สิทธิ์ตามจารีตโบราณแล้ว พึงสักการะอาจารย์โดยสมควร และโดยเฉพาะอย่างยิ่งพึงแสดงความเคารพต่อผู้ทรงพรต
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Emphasizes orthodox completion of worship by honoring the guru and vratins; merit (puṇya) is stabilized through proper śiṣṭācāra and guru-bhakti.
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva-worship is not only ritual action (pūjā and homa) but also right conduct—honoring the ācārya and the disciplined vratins, which purifies the seeker and supports grace (anugraha) on the path to liberation.
In Saguna Shiva worship, the prescribed sequence often includes pūjā to Shiva (commonly through the Liṅga), followed by homa and respectful completion rites; honoring the guru and fellow vow-keepers is treated as an integral limb (aṅga) of the worship, ensuring the ritual bears spiritual fruit.
Perform the ‘special’ prescribed pūjā, complete a homa according to tradition, and conclude with guru-pūjā and service to vratins—especially during vratas like Mahāśivarātri—maintaining discipline, purity, and devotion.