40 - Worship of Maheshvara 

Shankara said: 

1. O Lord, bearing Shankha and Gada, please narrate to me the Maheshvari Puja (worship) after knowing which men attain Siddhi (achievement). 

Hari said: 

2. O Vrushadhvaja, listen to the mode of worship of Maheshvara even as I describe the same. After taking bath, and performing Achamana let the devotee sit on a seat and perform Nyåsa. 

3. He shall then worship Maheshvara in the mandala (mystic diagram). With these mantras (he shall worship) Maheshvara accompanied by all followers. 

4. Om Ham, O ye deities of the seat of Shiva, come. He shall invoke the deities of the seat with this. 

5. Om Ham obeisance to Ganapati. Om Ham obeisance to Sarasvati. Om Ham obeisance to Nandin. Om Ham obeisance to Gangā. Om Häm obeisance to Lakshmi. Om Ham obeisance to Mahakāla. Om Ham obeisance to the Astra. 

6. O Hara, these are to be worshipped at the door with bathing, unguent, etc. Om Ham obeisance to Brahman the lord of Vastu (plot). Om Ham obeisance to the preceptors. Om Ham obeisance to the Adharashakti. Om Ham obeisance to Ananta. Om Ham obeisance to Dharma. Om Ham obeisance to jñana (know ledge), On Ham obeisance to Vairagya (non-attachment). Om Ham obeisance to Aišhvarya (prosperity). Om Ham obeisance to Adharma (Evil). Or Ham obeisance to Ajñana (ignorance). Om Ham obeisance to Avairāgya (attachment). Om Ham obeisance to Anaišhvarya (Poverty). Om Ham obeisance to Urdhvacchandas (the metre lifted up). Om Ham obeisance to Adhaśhcchandas (the metre shelved down). Om Ham obeisance to Padma. Om Ham obeisance to the Karnika (pericarp). Om Ham obeisance to Vama. Oin Ham obeisance to Jyeshtha. Om Ham obeisance to Raudra. Om Ham obeisance to Kali. Om Ham obeisance to Kalavikariņi. Om Ham obeisance to Balapramathini. Om Ham obeisance to Sarvabhūtadamani (suppressor of all living beings). Om Ham obeisance to Manonmani. Om Ham obeisance to the three mandalas. On Ham Haum Ham obeisance to the idol of Shiva. Om Ham obeisance to the presiding deity of learning. Om Ham Him Haum obeisance to Shivå. Om Ham obeisance to the heart. Om Him obeisance to the head. Om Hüm obeisance to the tuft. Om Haim obeisance to the Kavacha. Om Haum obeisance to the three eyes. Om Hah obeisance to the Astra. Om obeisance to the Sadyojata. 

7. Om Ham obeisance to Siddhi. On Ham obeisance to the Ruddhi (prosperity). Om Ham obeisance to Vidyuta.1 On Ham obeisance to Lakshmi. Om Ham obeisance to Bodha.2 Om Ham obeisance to Kali.3 Om Häm obeisance to Svadha. Om Ham obeisance to Prabha.4 

1. of lightning-colour.

2. Having knowledge.

3. The black one.

            4. Lustre.

8. These are the eight Kalas (digits) of Satya situated in the east, etc. 

9. Om Ham obeisance to Vamadea. Om Ham obeisance to Rajas. Om Ham obeisance to Raksha.5 Om Ham obeisance to Rati. Om Ham obeisance to Kanya.6 Om Ham obeisance to Kāma.7 Om Ham obeisance to Jñani.8 Om Ham obeisance to Kriya. Om Ham obeisance to Vruddhi.9 Om Ham obeisance to Karya.10 Om Häm obeisance to Ratri.11 Om Ham obeisance to Bhrami.12 Om Ham obeisance to Mohini.13 Om Ham obeisance to Tvara (Hurry). 

5. Security.

6. Virgin

7. The loving one

8. The knowing one.

 9. Prosperity.

10. That which is to be done.

11. Night.

 12. Roaming.

13. Enchanting.

O Vrushadhvaja, the Kalas of Vamadeva are to be known as thirteen. 

10. Om Ham obeisance to Tatpurusha. Om Ham obeisance to Vrutti.14 Om Ham obeisance to Pratishtha.15 Om Ham obeisance to Vidya.1 Om Ham obeisance to Shanti.2 O! Vrushabhadhvaja, the Kalas of Tatpuruşha are to be known as four.  

14. Existence.

15. Position.

1. Knowledge.

2. Peace. 

11. Om Ham obeisance to Aghora3. Om Ham obeisance to Uma.4 Om Ham obeisance to Kshama.5 Om Ham obeisance to Nidra (sleep). Om Ham obeisance to Vyadhi (sickness). Om Ham obeisance to Kshudha (hunger). Om Ham obeisance to Trushna (thirst). These six are the terrific Kalas of Aghora, O Hara.

3. Beautiful.

4. Tranquillity.

5. Forgiveness 

12. Om Ham obeisance to Ishäna. Om Ham obeisance to Samiti (Association). Om Häm obeisance to Angada.6 Om Ham obeisance to Krishna.7 On Him obeisance to Marichi.8 Om Ham obeisance to Jvala (flame). O Vrushabhadhvaja, know these five are Kalas of Ishana. 

6. Having an armlet. 

7. Black.

8. Ray of light. 

13. Om Ham obeisance to Shiva's followers. Om Häm obeisance to Indra the lord of deities. Om Ham obeisance to Agni the lord of brilliance. Om Ham obeisance to Yama the lord of departed spirits. Om Ham obeisance to Nirruti the lord of demons. Om Häm obeisance to Varuna9 the lord of waters. Om Ham obeisance to Vayu1o the Lord of vital airs. Om Ham obeisance to Soma11 the lord of eyes. Om Ham obeisance to Ishana the lord of all learning. Om Häm obeisance to Ananta the lord of Nagas. Om Ham obeisance to Brahman the lord of all the worlds. Om Ham obeisance to Dhulichandeshvara. 

9. A very important deity in the Rugveda where he is treated as the king of the universe. He is, in fact, a solar deity, or a personification of the sky. In later times, he became a minor deity, the Lord of water. (SP (AITM) p. 1598; Linga (AITM) p. 494 note 865; CDHM pp. 336-8). 

10. A minor deity in the Rugveda. However, in the later days, he came to be regarded as the Lord of air and also bore the name Marut: whereas in the Rugveda, the Maruts enjoy a separate identity. (SP (AITM), p. 2119; CDHM pp. 343-4). 

11. In the Rugveda, he is identical with Soma-juice and is praised in one whole mandala (IX). However, in the same Rugveda he is sometime identified with the moon: whereas in later mythology he is completely identified with the moon. (CDHM, pp. 301-3). 

14-19. The devotee shall duly perform Avahana, Sthapana, Sannidhana, Sannirodha, Sakalikarana, Tattvanyasa (fixation of principles), showing of Mudras, meditation, Padya, Achamana, Arghya, offerings of flowers and scented oils, Udvartana, Snäna, application of scented unguents offering of garments, ornaments etc. Anganyasa, Incense, Lamp, food offerings, washing of hands, Padya, Arghya, Achamana, Gandha, betel leaves, musical play, dance offering of umbrella, Mudras, Rupa, Dhyana, Japa, Ekavadbhava (identification), etc. He shall dedicate Japa with the Mula-mantra. O Rudra, I have, described the worship of Mahesha, that destroys all sins.