81 - The holy rite for the release of Pašhus

The sages said: 

1-4. This holy rite that liberates Paśhus (individual souls) from bondage has been mentiunce by you. This holy rite of Pashupati pertaining to the Linga had been performed formerly by Devas. It behoves you to mention this to us in the manner you had heard it formerly. 

Sūta said: 

Formerly, Nandin, the son of Shilāda, was earnestly asked by Sanatkumara. What Nandin spoke to him I shall mention succiently. This excellent vrata called Dvādaśha Linga and capable of liberating Pashus from bondage had been performed by Devas, Daityas, Gandharvas, Siddhas, Chāraṇas and the highly blessed sages. 

5. It yields worldly pleasures, liberation, yogic power and whatever one desires. It is auspicious, holy and conducive to perseverance and energetic efforts.703 It destroy's entanglement in worldly affairs in the case of devotees. 

703. N.S. edition reads 'aviyoga-karam' for "abhiyoga-karam'. avi. yogakaram--Sharvadā šhiva-sännidhyadāyakam ST. that which brings about the devotee's proximity to Shiva. 

6. It has been evolved after churning the Vedas and their six ancillaries.704 It excels all charitable gifs and is holier than ten thousand horse-sacrifices. 

704. Şhadanga: six ancillaries to the Veda, namely (i) Sikşha-the science of proper articulation and pronunciation, (ii) Chandas--the science of prosody, (iii) Vyakarana-grammar. (iv) Nirukta-etymological explanation of difficult Vedic words, (v) Jyotisha-astronomy, (vi)Kalpa---ritual or ceremonial. 

7. It is sacred, bestows all auspicious things, destroys all enemies, brings about salvation even to thuse creatures that are immersed in the ocean of worldly existence. 

8. It dispels all sickness and destroy's all fevers. It had been performed formerly by Devas as well as by Brahma and Vishnu. 

9. O leading brahmins, the devotee shall make a small Linga and bathe it with sandal water. Beginning in the month of Chaitra he shall perform the holy rite of Shivalinga. 

10-11. He shall make an auspicious golden lotus with pericarp and filaments. It shall have eight petals duly studded with all the nine precious gems. He shall then fix the crystal Linga in the pericarp along with its pedestal. He shall then duly and devoutly worship it with Bilva leaves. 

12-14. O sages of good holy rites, he shall worship the linga with thousands of white, red and blue lotuses, with white Arka, Karavira, Karņikära and Kurabaka as well as with other flowers in accordance with their availability report ting the Gāyatri. After adoring with scents, etc., with incense, with auspicious lamps and with Nirājanas (wavings of lights) the devotee shall worship the great lord in Linga form. O excellent brahmins, he shall offer Aguru (agallochum) in the south by means of Aghora Mantra. 

15. He shall offer the divine Manaḥshilā (red arsenic) in the west with the mantra of Sadyojāta, and sandal paste in the north with the Vāmadeva Mantra. 

16-17. O excellent sages, he shall offer Haritāla (yellow orpiment) in the east by means of Tatpuruṣha. With devotion he shall offer the following varieties of incense, viz., that originating from white Aguru and black Aguru; then the Guggula dhüpa (aromatic guin resin), the excellent Saugandhika (fragrant incense) and the incense named Sitāra. 

18. Mahācharu or an Adhaka measure of cooked rice should be offered as Naivedya. Thus, this great holy rite of Shivalinga has been narrated to you. 

19-22. All these are common to all months. I shall mention the particular features now: The Linga shall be adamantine in Vaišhākha;705 in Jyeșhtha it shall be made of emerald; in Aşhadha of pearl; in Shrāvana of lapis lazuli and in Bhadrapada of rubies. O leading brahmins, in Ashvina, the Linga shall be made of onyx; in Kārttika of coral; in Märgashīrsha of lapis lazuli; in Pauşha of topaz; in Māgha solar stone and in Phälguna of crystals. 

705. Vaišhākhe. For the worship of Linga in Chaitra read V-9ff. The crystal (sphäţika) linga is recommended in Caitra. Cf.?????

23-24. In all months one golden lotus shall be used for worship; if that is not available a silver lotus shall be used; if that too is not available ordinary lotus shall be used. 

When precious stones are not available the worship shall be conducted with gold or silver. If silver is not available, it shall be made with copper. 

23. The Linga can be made of rock, wood or clay along with its pedestal. Or he shall make a temporary Linga with fragrant substances. 

26-27. In the season of Hemanta (early winter) one shall worship Mahādeva with Shripatra706 (Bilva leaves) alone. In all the months a lotus made of gold or a lotus made of silver with golden pericarp can be used. If silver lotus is not available, he shall worship with Bilva leaves. 

706. Shripatra - bilva-patra. Shiva is very fond of bilva. Cf. Shiva-rahasya as cited in ST. 

28. If thousand lotuses are not available one shall worship with half that quantity; or he shall worship Rudra with a moiety of the said half or he shall worship with a hundred and eight lotuses. 

29. Goddess Lakşhmi endowed with all characteristics is stationed on the leaf of the Bilva. Ambikā is directly present in the blue lotus and Şhanmukha707 himself is present in the red lotus. 

707. Şhaņmukhah- (Şhadānanaḥ, shadvaktraḥ, shadvadanah) --six mouthed or six-faced or six-headed, i.e., Kärttikeya. He is so called because when born he was fostered by the six Kruttikäs who offered their six breasts to him, so he became six-headed. 

30. Mahadeva, Shiva, the lord of all Devas occupies the lotus. Hence the learned man shall never forsake the Bilva leaf. He must employ every means to secure it. 

31. He shall not forsake the blue lotus, the red lilies and particularly the red lotuses. The lotus fascinates everyone. Shilă (red arsenic) bestows Siddhi of all objects. 

32-33. The incense originating from the black agallochum dispels all sins; the offering of aromatic gum, resin, etc. and the gift of lamps destroy all ailments; sandal paste bestows all Siddhis; the scented incense is the means of achieving all desired objects. 

34. The incense originating from white agallochum as well as black agallochum and the gentle incense Sitāri bestow salvation. 

35-37. The four-faced Brahmā is present in the white Arka flower: the goddess of intelligence is well established in the Karnikara flower; the presiding deity of the Gaņas is present in the Karavīra flower. Nārāyana himself is present in the Kurabaka flower, the daughter of the mountain is present in all fragrant flowers. Hence, one shall devoutly and in accordance with one's means, worship the lord of the chiefs of Devas by means of these splendid flowers, incenses, etc. according to their availability. 

38. Thereafter, he shall devoutly offer Mahācharu made of milk, as Naivedya along with ghee and side-dishes, prepared with all materials of diet. 

39-45. Or the devotee shall offer an Adhaka measure or half of it of pure cooked rice or cooked with green gram dal. The devotee shall offer Châmara (chowries) and fans to the deity. He shall also dedicate presents that had been earned by legally justifiable means. They shall be holy and befitting and of diverse kinds. They should be sprinkled with water before dedication and offered to Rudra with a devoted mind. It was from milk that nectar had been extracted by the victorious Vişhnu for the sustenance of Devas. Everything is founded on cooked rice. By giving charitable gifts of rice to all living beings lord Shiva is delighted. Hence, one shall worship the lord with cooked rice. The vital breaths are stabilised in cooked rice. There is also pleasure in the offering of other presents; the wind-god is present in the fan. Mahādeva himself is present in all materials; the lord of waters, Varuņa is present in the scented water; Prakruti along with the principle Mahat is present in the pedestal. Hence, one shall worship the lord duly every month. For achieving all desired objects, the Vrata should be observed on the full moon day. 

46. One shall preserve truthfulness, cleanliness, kindness, quiescence, contentment and liberal-mindedness. The devotee shall observe fast on full moon and new moon days. 

47. At the end of the year he shall make a gift of a cow. Particularly he shall observe the rite of Vrushotsarga.708 With devotion he shall feed brahmins who have mastered the Vedas and who have sound learning. 

708. Vrushotsarga-a rite of letting loose a bull (or, according to some, a bull and four heifers) as a work of merit, especially on the occasion of a Śhrāddha in honour of deceased ancestors,

48. The devotee shall deposit the Linga that he has worshipped, in the shrine of Shiva along with the materials of worship or he may give them to a brahmin. 

49. O excellent sages, only he who devoutly performs this grcac holy ritc of Shivalinga in all the months, is the most excellent one among those who perform penance. 

50. In aerial chariots that are bedecked in jewels and that are as refulgent as crores of suns, he goes to the divine city of Shiva709 and never returns here. 

709. A mythical city Shiva-pura' on the Himālayas, particularly on the Kailasa peak is conceived as the abode of Shiva. 

51. Or he shall perform this excellent vrata only for a month. Even then he attains the world of Shiva. No doubt need be entertained in this respect. 

52. Or, if the mind of the devotec is attracted to worldly pleasures he shall observe the holy rite for a year. He will attain whatever boons he craves for and obtain Shiva. 

53. The devoted man obtains Deva-hood, Pitru-hood, or becomes the king of Devas or the chieftain of Gaņas. 

54. He who seeks learning obtains learning; he who seeks worldly pleasures will attain them; he who seeks wealth may espy a treasure-trove and he who desires for longevity will achieve longevity. 

55. One rejoices by attaining whatever desires he cherishes by performing the vrata, only for a month. In the end hc will attain Rudratva. 

56. This sacred and excellent vrata which is a great secret is evolved by Shiva the creator of the universe, for the benefit of Devas, Asuras, Siddhas, Vidyādharas and human beings. 

57. After duly worshipping the lord who is worthy of worship, after bowing to him with head bent down along with one's sons and servants and after assiduously circumambulating him one shall repeat the hymn "Vyapohana."710 

710. vyapobana-a stotra of Shiva. See ch. 82.

58. This highly precious hymn was composed by lord Brahma, the Creator of the Universe. For the welfare of the three worlds this was repeated by the magnanimous lord along with Devas.