Accompaniments to Worship

Upamanyu said

A killer of a brahmana, a drunkard, a thief, one who has violated his guru's bed, a killer of his mother, a killer of his father, a killer of a hero, a killer of a foetus: as long as he devoutly worships Shiva, the supreme cause, even without mantras, within twelve years he is duly freed of all those sins. So even a fallen man must make every effort to worship Shiva. He should be no one else's devotee, should live on begged food and conquer his senses. Even one who has committed a major sin is freed from it if he devoutly worships the lord of the gods with the panchakshara. There are others who keep vows of hardship, living on water alone, but by those vows they cannot reach Shiva's world. If a person devoutly worships Shiva with the panchakshara even once, by the power of Shiva's mantra he goes to Shiva's abode. So crores of austerities and sacrifices where all one owns is given as dakshina are not equal to worshipping Shiva's image. Whether bound or free, one who devoutly worships with the panchakshara is called a devotee; there is no need to think about it. If a man worships Shiva even once, with or without Rudra's sukta, even a fallen or foolish one, he will be liberated. If a person is Shiva's devotee and has conquered anger, and worships the divinity with the mantra from the sukta or with the six-syllable mantra, he may get something or nothing; doubtless it is better to get something than nothing. He is freed and becomes part of the Hamsa that is the brahman. So, full of devotion, one should constantly worship Shiva with the mantra from the sukta, once, twice, three times a day, or constantly. Those who worship Mahadeva are known as Maheshvaras themselves. A person without knowledge who does not worship Bhagavan Shiva will be submerged for a long time in this ocean of misery that is samsara. Human life is hard to get. Having got it, a fool who does not worship Shiva wastes his birth, since it does not serve liberation. But one who worships the wielder of the Pinaka makes his birth fruitful, and such excellent men achieve their aims.

Those full of devotion to Bhava, with minds bowed to Bhava, who seek to remember Bhava, have no share in miseries. They have beautiful mansions, women bright with ornaments and wealth till they are satisfied. These are the fruits of following the procedures and worshipping Shiva. Those who want great pleasure and kingdoms in the world of the gods also long for Hara's lotus feet all the time. Those who drop everything else and devote themselves single-mindedly to Shiva gain good fortune, beauty, handsomeness, a spirited nature, feeling soaked in renunciation, valour and fame in the world. All this comes from worshipping Shiva, so one who wants his own welfare should follow the procedures and worship Shiva. Life passes fast, youth passes fast, diseases come quickly. So one should worship the wielder of the Pinaka before death comes and before age disables. One should worship Shankara before the senses fail. In the three worlds no dharma equals worshipping Shiva. Knowing this, one must carefully worship Sadashiva.

If he is worshipped in a palace, rites can also be done near the gate and behind a screen, with offerings to his companions as well. There must be constant festivals. After oblations to him, they are also offered to his companions, in order, in the palace. The worshipper comes out of the palace to the sound of instruments and stands facing north. Standing on a great seat facing north, he offers flowers, incense, lamps, food and water. Food and other things are first offered to the divinity, and whatever is left is then offered to Chanda. Having made the oblations properly, the rest of the worship is completed. When this is done by the procedures, he uses a mantra and does japa. As Shiva said in his instructions, there must be constant festivals. A large metal vessel decorated with a red lotus is set up, and the divine Pashupata weapon is invoked and worshipped there. An ornamented brahmana places that vessel on Shiva. He does nyasa of the astra mantra on his body and holds a shining torch. Outside the palace the family members make auspicious sounds, dancing and singing, with lamps and standards. Not too fast and not too slow, the devotee makes three circuits and returns to the great seat. The performer of the sacrifice enters again and stands near the door with joined hands, takes the vessel inside and takes leave of the astra mantra. As before, he circles again. Offering eight flowers, he completes the worship.