पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्
Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon
विविधान्नस्य नैवेद्यं धनुर्मासे विशिष्यते । मार्गशीर्षेऽन्नदस्यैव सर्वमिष्टफलं भवेत्
vividhānnasya naivedyaṃ dhanurmāse viśiṣyate | mārgaśīrṣe'nnadasyaiva sarvamiṣṭaphalaṃ bhavet
دھنور ماس میں طرح طرح کے پکے ہوئے اَنّ کا نَیویدیہ خاص طور پر پسندیدہ ہے۔ اور مارگشیرش میں جو بھکت اَنّ دان کرے اسے تمام مطلوبہ مبارک پھل حاصل ہوتے ہیں۔
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-worship observances to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: In the Kāśī-centered Viśveśvara context, seasonal/monthly observances (Dhanurmāsa, Mārgaśīrṣa) are presented as time-windows where naivedya and anna-dāna become especially potent, reinforcing the temple economy of feeding pilgrims and offering to the Lord.
Significance: Dhanurmāsa naivedya and Mārgaśīrṣa anna-dāna yield iṣṭa-phala (desired boons) and strengthen bhakti through service (seva) and purity.
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
It teaches that devotion to Shiva is expressed not only through mantra and worship, but also through compassionate service—especially anna-dāna (giving food), which purifies the soul (paśu) and loosens bondage (pāśa) by cultivating selflessness.
Naivedya is a direct act of Saguna Shiva worship—offering food to the Linga as the living Lord (Pati). The verse highlights that such offerings, when done in sacred times like Dhanurmāsa/Mārgaśīrṣa, become especially fruitful.
Perform Shiva-pūjā with naivedya of varied foods during Dhanurmāsa, and prioritize anna-dāna in Mārgaśīrṣa; accompany the act with remembrance of Shiva (e.g., japa of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to consecrate the offering.