Pāśupata-vrata Māhātmya: Dvādaśa-Liṅga Mahāvrata, Month-wise Dravya, and Pūjā-krama
कर्णिकायां न्यसेल्लिङ्गं स्फाटिकं पीठसंयुतम् तत्र भक्त्या यथान्यायम् अर्चयेद् बिल्वपत्रकैः
karṇikāyāṃ nyaselliṅgaṃ sphāṭikaṃ pīṭhasaṃyutam tatra bhaktyā yathānyāyam arcayed bilvapatrakaiḥ
Hãy đặt Liṅga bằng pha lê (sphāṭika) lên karṇikā, gắn với pīṭha đúng pháp. Tại đó, với lòng bhakti và theo nghi quỹ, hãy thờ phụng bằng lá bilva, để tôn kính Pati (Śiva) và khiến paśu (linh hồn bị trói) hướng về giải thoát khỏi pāśa (ràng buộc).
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It gives a precise puja instruction: establish a sphāṭika (crystal) Liṅga properly on its pīṭha and worship it devotionally with bilva leaves, emphasizing both correct ritual form and bhakti.
Śiva is implied as Pati—the Lord who is approached through the Liṅga-symbol; when worship is done with devotion and right order, it becomes a means for the pashu (soul) to transcend pāśa (bondage).
A core element of Shiva-puja vidhi: proper installation (nyāsa/sthāpana) and offering bilva leaves with disciplined devotion—an outer rite that supports inner Pāśupata orientation toward liberation.