Shloka 17
गजाननपूजा तथा औपासन-होमविधिः
Worship of Gajānana and the Procedure of Aupāsana-Homa
परस्तात्तंत्रमग्नये स्वाहेत्यग्निमुखावधि । निर्वर्त्य पश्चात्प्राणाय स्वाहेत्यारभ्य पञ्चभिः
parastāttaṃtramagnaye svāhetyagnimukhāvadhi | nirvartya paścātprāṇāya svāhetyārabhya pañcabhiḥ
此后，他应通过向火中供奉并诵念“莎诃”（svāhā）来完成规定的仪式，直到火祭结束。随后，在如法完成后，他应开始向气息（Prāṇa）供奉并诵念“莎诃”，以五次为一组进行。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Procedural continuation: offerings to Agni concluding the agni-mukha segment, followed by a fivefold offering sequence to Prāṇa. Not a Jyotirliṅga episode.
Significance: Highlights prāṇa-śuddhi and life-force harmonization as part of Śaiva ritual discipline; in Siddhānta, regulated kriyā supports inner steadiness, making the paśu fit for Śiva’s anugraha.
Mantra: … agnaye svāhā … prāṇāya svāhā (as indicated)
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It links outer worship (homa offered into Agni) with inner worship (addressing Prāṇa), showing that Śiva-sādhana integrates ritual purity and the refinement of life-breath, leading the devotee toward steadiness and liberation.
In Śaiva ritual, offerings into Agni and subsequent prāṇa-invocations support focused devotion to Saguna Śiva (often centered on the Liṅga), making the mind fit to contemplate Śiva’s presence as both immanent (worshiped) and transcendent (realized).
It suggests completing the fire-offering with “svāhā,” then performing a fivefold prāṇa-related offering/invocation—commonly understood as a disciplined prāṇa practice aligned with the five vital airs (pañca-prāṇa) as part of Śaiva worship.