Shloka 88
प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः
The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava
ब्राह्ममोंकारसहितं नमो ब्रह्मण इत्यपि । जपित्वा त्रिस्ततो ब्रूयादग्निमीऌए पुरोहितम्
brāhmamoṃkārasahitaṃ namo brahmaṇa ityapi | japitvā tristato brūyādagnimīḷe purohitam
与圣音“唵”相应，将梵天真言“namo brahmaṇe”（礼敬梵）诵三遍；随后当诵《梨俱吠陀》开首祈请：“agnim īḷe purohitam”（我赞颂阿耆尼，神圣祭司）。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it situates Śaiva homa within a Vedic frame by prescribing Oṃ and a ‘Brahma-mantra’ followed by the Ṛgvedic opening to Agni—showing continuity between Veda and Śiva-oriented ritual.
Significance: Highlights mantra-śuddhi and Vedic anchoring as a means to make the rite authoritative (prāmāṇya) and fruitful.
Mantra: ॐ नमो ब्रह्मणः । (japa thrice) अग्निमीळे पुरोहितम् ।
Type: rudram
FAQs
It prescribes a purificatory sequence: begin with Oṁ and a reverential Brahman-invocation, then invoke Agni as the inner and outer purifier—preparing the mind and ritual space for higher Shaiva worship.
In Shaiva Siddhanta practice, preliminary Vedic invocations and purifications support orderly worship (pūjā) of Saguna Shiva in the Linga; Agni symbolizes the consecrating power that makes offerings and mantra effective.
Do japa of Oṁ with “namo brahmaṇaḥ” three times, then recite “agnim īḷe purohitam” as an opening invocation—especially as a preparatory rite before pūjā, homa, or mantra practice.