73 - Glory of worshipping Shiva 

Sūta said: 

1. When lord Maheshvara departed thence after burning the three cities in a trice the lotus-born deity (Brahma) spoke thus in the assembly of the leading Devas. 

Brahmā said: 

2-6. Due to the Váyā of Lord Vishnu the following Daityas forsook Mahadeva and perished along with their cities and citizens. They were the grandson of Tāra of great brilliance, the powerful son of Täraka, the asura Tarakākşha, the powerful Kamalākşha, Vidyunmālin, the lord of Daityas and many others along with kith and kin. They left the worship of the lord Maheśhvara and so they perished. Hence Sadāśhiva in the Linga form should always be worshipped since Devas have stability only as long as they worship the lord. Shiva should always be adored by the leading Devas with faith. The entire world is based on the Linga. Everything is founded in the Linga. 

7-9. Hence, he who wishes for perfection of the soul shall worship the Linga. It is only through the worship of the Linga that Devas, Daityas, Dänavas, Yakşhas, Vidyadharas, Siddhas, Pišhitāśhanas, Pitrus, Sages, Pishachas, Kinnaras and others have undoubtedly achieved Siddhi. Hence, O Devas, by any means whatsoever one should always worship the Linga. 

10-21. The holy rite Pashupata. 

We are all Pashus of that intelligent lord of Devas. Eschewing Paśhutva and adopting the holy rite Pāśhupata, the eternal Mahadeva in the Linga form should be worshipped. The five elements Jould be cleansed simultaneously by means of five656 Praņavas along with five Prāņāyāmas (control of breath), O leading Devas. Then the process should be repeated with four Pranavas; theri with three; and then with two, always accompanied with an equal number of Prāņāyāmas. He shall then utter Omkāra and control the Prāna and Apāna. He shall fill all the limbs with the nectar of perfect knowledge as well as Pranava. He shall then purify the three Guņas, the fourth called Ahamkāra (ego)657 and the tanmätras, O Devas of good holy rites. Then he shall cleanse the elements. the organs of sense and the organs of action. After cleansing the two,658 viz., the Puruşha and the Chidātman he shall repeat “Agnih Bhasma" (the fire is the Ash) and touch the bouy (?) He shall then say similarly that the wind, ether, water and earth are ashes and then smear his body with ashes during the three sandhyās throughout life. (By doing so) one becomes a Yogin conversant with all tattvas (principles). This is the Pāśhupata vrata) pertaining to Shiva. O excellent Devas, it was for the liberation from bondage that this has been mentioned by the lord himself. By performing the Pashupata rite in this manner and by worshipping the great lord. the Linga formerly seen by me and the noble-souled Vişhnu, O Devas, people cease to be Paśhus within a year. All rites should be performed assiduously by us after worshipping lord Iśhvara externally and internally, O excellent Devas, this is my divine row as well as that of Vişhnu.  

656. i.e. the five prāņāyāmas preceded by the five pranavas (om syllables). 

657. fourfold, viz., manas (mind), buddhi (intellect), ahamkāra (ego), and chitta (consciousness). 

658. the two puruşhas: taijasa (the universal) and prajña (the individual) soul. 

22-25. There is no doubt that it is the vow of the sages also. Hence one should worship Shiva. If one does not think about the only God Shiva, even for a moment, it is a loss, it is a great blemish, it is delusion, it is silence. Those who indulge in devotion to him, those who mentally bow down to him, and those who attempt to remember Bhava are never subjected to misery. The fruit of the worship of Shiva is as follows: - Pleasant and charming abodes, divine ornaments, women, and riches till one is satisfied. May those who wish for enjoyment of great pleasures or the kingdom of heaven, worship Maheśhvara in the Linga form, at all times. 

26-29. Even after striking and destroying all living being, and after burning this entire universe is one should worship the only God Virūpākşha (i.e. Shiva), one is never tarnished with sins. 

After saying, 'My Linga is made of rock, it is bowed to by all Devas," Brahmã worshipped Rudra, the lord of the three worlds at the outset and eulogised the three-eyed lord of Devas with pleasing words. Ever since then, Indra and others too worshipped the lord directly after performing the Pāśhupata rite and smearing their bodies with ashes.