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
دہی سے رُدر کا اَبھِشیک کرے اور دستور کے مطابق شُدھی (تطہیر) کرے؛ پھر پاک پانی سے سنا کر چندن وغیرہ سے پوجا کرے۔
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.