Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15
द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)
भवोद्भवस्तयोर्मध्ये कपालीशस्ततः परम् । तस्मिन्नावरणे भूयो वृषेन्द्रं पुरतो यजेत्
bhavodbhavastayormadhye kapālīśastataḥ param | tasminnāvaraṇe bhūyo vṛṣendraṃ purato yajet
ระหว่างภวะและอุทภวะ และยิ่งไปกว่านั้นคือกปาลีศะ (พระศิวะผู้ทรงกะโหลก) ในอาวรณะนั้นเอง พึงบูชาวฤษภเอนทร์ นันทิ ผู้ตั้งไว้เบื้องหน้าอีกครั้ง.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Kaṅkālamūrti
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse teaches disciplined approach (krama) in Shaiva worship: honoring Shiva’s surrounding powers and attendants (āvaraṇa) culminates in devotion that becomes fit to approach Pati (Shiva), with Nandin as the foremost gateway of bhakti and service.
It reflects temple and linga-puja practice where Nandi is placed facing Shiva and is worshipped first; this honors Saguna Shiva’s manifest retinue and supports concentrated devotion before the main offering to the Linga/Lord.
Perform āvaraṇa-pūjā in sequence and specifically worship Nandi in front of Shiva—offering water/flowers and mentally taking refuge in Shiva’s grace through his chief attendant, cultivating humility and one-pointedness.