Shloka 17
पार्थिवप्रतिमापूजाविधानम्
Pārthiva-pratimā Pūjā-vidhāna — Procedure for Worship of an Earthen Icon
दीपाज्ज्ञानमवाप्नोति तांबूलाद्भोगमाप्नुयात् । तस्मात्स्नानादिकं षट्कं प्रयत्नेन प्रसाधयेत्
dīpājjñānamavāpnoti tāṃbūlādbhogamāpnuyāt | tasmātsnānādikaṃ ṣaṭkaṃ prayatnena prasādhayet
Từ việc dâng đèn, người ta đạt được tri kiến chân thật; từ việc dâng tāmbūla (trầu cau), người ta được hưởng an lạc và phúc lợi. Vì vậy, cần chuyên cần thực hành trọn vẹn sáu nghi thức, bắt đầu từ việc tắm gội, để việc thờ phụng được viên mãn.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: General upacāra-phala teaching; not tied to a particular Jyotirliṅga narrative.
Significance: Highlights dīpa as a means to jñāna (inner illumination) and tāmbūla as a giver of bhoga; urges completion of the ‘sixfold’ foundational observances beginning with snāna for full ritual efficacy.
Role: teaching
Offering: dipa
FAQs
It teaches that specific offerings in Shiva-puja bear corresponding fruits—light (dīpa) supports the arising of jñāna, while tāmbūla supports bhoga—so a devotee should carefully maintain the full discipline of worship beginning with purity through bathing.
Lamp and tāmbūla are standard upacāras offered to the Shiva-Linga in Saguna worship; the verse links these outward acts to inner results—illumination of understanding and ordered worldly well-being—supporting steady devotion that matures toward liberation.
It recommends diligent observance of the ‘sixfold’ routine starting with snāna (ritual bath) as preparation for Shiva-puja, along with offering a lamp (dīpa) and other upacāras; this can be paired with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) during worship.