Occasional Rites and the Soul's Ascent to Shiva

Verse 1 (shiva.vayaviya.63.1)

उपमन्युरुवाच । अतः परं प्रवक्ष्यामि शिवाश्रमनिषेविणाम् । शिवशास्त्रोक्तमार्गेण नैमित्तिकविधिक्रमम्

upamanyuruvāca | ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi śivāśramaniṣeviṇām | śivaśāstroktamārgeṇa naimittikavidhikramam

Upamanyu said: Hereafter I shall declare, for those who dwell in the Śaiva order of life, according to the path taught in the Śaiva scripture, the sequence of occasional rites.

Verse 2 (shiva.vayaviya.63.2)

सर्वेष्वपि च मासेषु पक्षयोरुभयोरपि । अष्टभ्यां च चतुर्दश्यां तथा पर्वणि च क्रमात्

sarveṣvapi ca māseṣu pakṣayorubhayorapi | aṣṭabhyāṃ ca caturdaśyāṃ tathā parvaṇi ca kramāt

In all months, in both fortnights, on the eighth day, on the fourteenth day, and likewise on the parva day of sacred conjunction —

Verse 3 (shiva.vayaviya.63.3)

अयने विषुवे चैव ग्रहणेषु विशेषतः । कर्तव्या महती पूजा ह्यधिका वापि शक्तितः

ayane viṣuve caiva grahaṇeṣu viśeṣataḥ | kartavyā mahatī pūjā hyadhikā vāpi śaktitaḥ

at the solstice, at the equinox, and especially during eclipses, a great worship should be performed, or an even greater one, according to one's means.

Verse 4 (shiva.vayaviya.63.4)

मासि मासि यथान्यायं ब्रह्मकूर्चं प्रसाध्य तु । स्नापयित्वा शिवं तेन पिबेच्छेषमुपोषितः

māsi māsi yathānyāyaṃ brahmakūrcaṃ prasādhya tu | snāpayitvā śivaṃ tena pibeccheṣamupoṣitaḥ

Each month, having duly prepared the brahmakūrca, and having bathed Śiva with it, one should, while observing a fast, drink what remains.

Verse 5 (shiva.vayaviya.63.5)

ब्रह्महत्यादिदोषाणामतीव महतामपि । निष्कृतिर्ब्रह्मकूर्चस्य पानान्नान्या विशिष्यते

brahmahatyādidoṣāṇāmatīva mahatāmapi | niṣkṛtirbrahmakūrcasya pānānnānyā viśiṣyate

For sins as great as brahmahatyā and the like, there is no other atonement more excellent than the drinking of the brahmakūrca.

Verse 6 (shiva.vayaviya.63.6)

पौषे तु पुष्यनक्षत्रे कुर्यान्नीराजनं विभोः । माघे मघाख्ये नक्षत्रे प्रदद्याद् घृतकम्बलम्

pauṣe tu puṣyanakṣatre kuryānnīrājanaṃ vibhoḥ | māghe maghākhye nakṣatre pradadyād ghṛtakambalam

In the month of Pauṣa, on the Puṣya nakṣatra, he should perform the nīrājana of the Lord; in Māgha, on the nakṣatra called Maghā, he should offer a ghee-soaked blanket.

Verse 7 (shiva.vayaviya.63.7)

फाल्गुने चोत्तरान्ते वै प्रारभेत महोत्सवम् । चैत्रे चित्रापौर्णमास्यां दोलां कुर्याद्यथाविधि

phālgune cottarānte vai prārabheta mahotsavam | caitre citrāpaurṇamāsyāṃ dolāṃ kuryādyathāvidhi

In Phālguna, at the end of Uttarā-Phalgunī, he should begin the great festival; in Caitra, on the full moon of Citrā, he should perform the swing-festival according to rule.

Verse 8 (shiva.vayaviya.63.8)

वैशाख्यां तु विशाखायां कुर्यात्पुष्पमहालयम् । ज्येष्ठे मूलाख्यनक्षत्रे शीतकुम्भं प्रदापयेत्

vaiśākhyāṃ tu viśākhāyāṃ kuryātpuṣpamahālayam | jyeṣṭhe mūlākhyanakṣatre śītakumbhaṃ pradāpayet

In Vaiśākha, on the Viśākhā nakṣatra, he should perform the great flower-festival; in Jyeṣṭha, on the nakṣatra called Mūla, he should offer a cool water-vessel.

Verse 9 (shiva.vayaviya.63.9)

आषाढे चोत्तराषाढे पवित्रारोपणं तथा । श्रावणे प्राकृतान्यापि मण्डलानि प्रकल्पयेत्

āṣāḍhe cottarāṣāḍhe pavitrāropaṇaṃ tathā | śrāvaṇe prākṛtānyāpi maṇḍalāni prakalpayet

In Āṣāḍha, on Uttarāṣāḍhā, he should perform the pavitrāropaṇa, the offering of the sacred thread; in Śrāvaṇa he should also fashion the ordinary diagrams.

Verse 10 (shiva.vayaviya.63.10)

श्रविष्ठाख्ये तु नक्षत्रे प्रौष्ठपद्यां ततः परम् । प्रोक्षयेच्च जलक्रीडां पूर्वाषाढाश्रये दिने

śraviṣṭhākhye tu nakṣatre prauṣṭhapadyāṃ tataḥ param | prokṣayecca jalakrīḍāṃ pūrvāṣāḍhāśraye dine

On the nakṣatra called Śraviṣṭhā, in the month of Bhādrapada, thereafter he should perform the water-sport; on the day of Pūrvāṣāḍhā he should perform another rite.

Verse 11 (shiva.vayaviya.63.11)

आश्वयुज्यां ततो दद्यात्पायसं च नवौदनम् । अग्निकार्यं च तेनैव कुर्यात् शतभिषग्दिने

āśvayujyāṃ tato dadyātpāyasaṃ ca navaudanam | agnikāryaṃ ca tenaiva kuryāt śatabhiṣagdine

In the month of Āśvina, thereafter he should offer milk-porridge and the new grain; on the day of the Śatabhiṣā nakṣatra, he should perform the fire-rite with that very offering.

Verse 12 (shiva.vayaviya.63.12)

कार्तिक्यां कृतिकायोगे दद्याद्दीपसहस्रकम् । मार्गशीर्षे तथार्द्रायां घृतेन स्नापयेत् शिवम्

kārtikyāṃ kṛtikāyoge dadyāddīpasahasrakam | mārgaśīrṣe tathārdrāyāṃ ghṛtena snāpayet śivam

In the month of Kārtika, at the conjunction of Kṛttikā, he should offer a thousand lamps; in Mārgaśīrṣa, on the Ārdrā nakṣatra, he should bathe Śiva with ghee.

Verse 13 (shiva.vayaviya.63.13)

अशक्तस्तेषु कालेषु कुर्यादुत्सवमेव वा । आस्थानं वा महापूजामधिकं वा समर्चनम्

aśaktasteṣu kāleṣu kuryādutsavameva vā | āsthānaṃ vā mahāpūjāmadhikaṃ vā samarcanam

If unable to perform the specific rite on these occasions, he should perform simply a festival, or a public assembly, or a great worship, or an enhanced form of worship.

Verse 14 (shiva.vayaviya.63.14)

आवृत्तेऽपि च कल्याणे प्रशस्तेष्वपि कर्मसु । दौर्मनस्ये दुराचारे दुःस्वप्ने दुष्टदर्शने

āvṛtte'pi ca kalyāṇe praśasteṣvapi karmasu | daurmanasye durācāre duḥsvapne duṣṭadarśane

Also whenever an auspicious occasion recurs, and in praiseworthy undertakings too; on the occurrence of ill temper, misconduct, a bad dream, or an evil sight —

Verse 15 (shiva.vayaviya.63.15)

उत्पाते वाशुभेऽन्यस्मिन् रोगे वा प्रबलेऽथवा । स्नानपूजाजपध्यानहोमदानादिकाः क्रियः

utpāte vāśubhe'nyasmin roge vā prabale'thavā | snānapūjājapadhyānahomadānādikāḥ kriyaḥ

in a portent, or in any other inauspicious event, or in a severe illness — the rites of bathing, worship, recitation, meditation, fire-oblation, charity, and the rest —

Verse 16 (shiva.vayaviya.63.16)

निमित्तानुगुणाः कार्याः पुरश्चरणपूर्विकाः । शिवानले च विहते पुनः सन्धानमाचरेत्

nimittānuguṇāḥ kāryāḥ puraścaraṇapūrvikāḥ | śivānale ca vihate punaḥ sandhānamācaret

should be performed as suited to the occasion, preceded by the puraścaraṇa rite; if the fire of Śiva has gone out, he should rekindle it again.

Verse 17 (shiva.vayaviya.63.17)

य एवं शर्वधर्मिष्ठो वर्तते नित्यमुद्यतः । तस्यैकजन्मना मुक्तिं प्रयच्छति महेश्वरः

ya evaṃ śarvadharmiṣṭho vartate nityamudyataḥ | tasyaikajanmanā muktiṃ prayacchati maheśvaraḥ

Whoever thus abides steadfastly in the dharma of Śarva, ever diligent, to him Maheśvara grants liberation in a single birth.

Verse 18 (shiva.vayaviya.63.18)

एतद्यथोत्तरं कुर्यात् नित्यनैमित्तिकेषु यः । दिव्यं श्रीकण्ठनाथस्य स्थानमाद्यं स गच्छति

etadyathottaraṃ kuryāt nityanaimittikeṣu yaḥ | divyaṃ śrīkaṇṭhanāthasya sthānamādyaṃ sa gacchati

Whoever, in his daily and occasional duties, proceeds in this very order, step by step, attains the primal divine abode of Śrīkaṇṭhanātha.

Verse 19 (shiva.vayaviya.63.19)

तत्र भुक्त्वा महाभोगान् कल्पकोटिशतं नरः । कालान्तरे च्युतस्तस्मादौमं कौमारमेव च

tatra bhuktvā mahābhogān kalpakoṭiśataṃ naraḥ | kālāntare cyutastasmādaumaṃ kaumārameva ca

There a man, having enjoyed great pleasures for a hundred million kalpas, when at length he falls from that place, attains the world of Umā, and the world of Kumāra —

Verse 20 (shiva.vayaviya.63.20)

सम्प्राप्य वैष्णवं ब्राह्मं रुद्रलोकं विशेषतः । तत्रोषित्वा चिरं कालं भुक्त्वा भोगान्यथोदितान्

samprāpya vaiṣṇavaṃ brāhmaṃ rudralokaṃ viśeṣataḥ | tatroṣitvā ciraṃ kālaṃ bhuktvā bhogānyathoditān

and especially attains the world of Viṣṇu, of Brahmā, and the world of Rudra; having dwelt there for a long time and enjoyed the pleasures as described —

Verse 21 (shiva.vayaviya.63.21)

पुनश्चोर्ध्वं गतस्तस्मादतीत्य स्थानपञ्चकम् । श्रीकण्ठाज्ज्ञानमासाद्य तस्मात् शैवपुरं व्रजेत्

punaścordhvaṃ gatastasmādatītya sthānapañcakam | śrīkaṇṭhājjñānamāsādya tasmāt śaivapuraṃ vrajet

then, going upward again from there, having passed beyond the five stations, having obtained knowledge from Śrīkaṇṭha, he goes thence to the city of Śiva.

Verse 22 (shiva.vayaviya.63.22)

अर्द्धचर्यारतश्चापि द्विरावृत्त्यैवमेव तु । पश्चाज्ज्ञानं समासाद्य शिवसायुज्यमाप्नुयात्

arddhacaryārataścāpi dvirāvṛttyaivameva tu | paścājjñānaṃ samāsādya śivasāyujyamāpnuyāt

He who is devoted to the half-observance, likewise returning twice in this same way, afterward attains knowledge and obtains union with Śiva.

Verse 23 (shiva.vayaviya.63.23)

अर्द्धार्द्धचरितो यस्तु देही देहक्षयात्परम् । अण्डान्तं वोर्ध्वमव्यक्तमतीत्य भुवनद्वयम्

arddhārddhacarito yastu dehī dehakṣayātparam | aṇḍāntaṃ vordhvamavyaktamatītya bhuvanadvayam

He, embodied, who observes only a quarter of the discipline — after the decay of his body, passing beyond both worlds, up to the end of the cosmic Egg, or above to the Unmanifest —

Verse 24 (shiva.vayaviya.63.24)

सम्प्राप्य पौरुषं रौद्रस्थानमद्रीन्द्रजापतेः । अनेकयुगसाहस्रं भुक्त्वा भोगाननेकधा

samprāpya pauruṣaṃ raudrasthānamadrīndrajāpateḥ | anekayugasāhasraṃ bhuktvā bhogānanekadhā

attains the Pauruṣa station and the Raudra station of the Lord of the Daughter of the Mountain-King; and having enjoyed manifold pleasures for many thousands of ages —

Verse 25 (shiva.vayaviya.63.25)

पुण्यक्षये क्षितिं प्राप्य कुले महति जायते । तत्रापि पूर्वसंस्कारवशेन स महाद्युतिः

puṇyakṣaye kṣitiṃ prāpya kule mahati jāyate | tatrāpi pūrvasaṃskāravaśena sa mahādyutiḥ

when his merit is exhausted, he attains the earth again, and is born in some great lineage; there too, by the force of his former impressions, that man of great splendor —

Verse 26 (shiva.vayaviya.63.26)

पशुधर्मान् परित्यज्य शिवधर्मरतो भवेत् । तद्धर्मगौरवादेव ध्यात्वा शिवपुरं व्रजेत्

paśudharmān parityajya śivadharmarato bhavet | taddharmagauravādeva dhyātvā śivapuraṃ vrajet

abandons the ways of ordinary bound souls and becomes devoted to the dharma of Śiva; and through the very greatness of that dharma, meditating, he attains the city of Śiva.

Verse 27 (shiva.vayaviya.63.27)

भोगांश्च विविधान् भुक्त्वा विद्येश्वरपदं व्रजेत् । तत्र विद्येश्वरैःसार्द्धं भुक्त्वा भोगान् बहून् क्रमात्

bhogāṃśca vividhān bhuktvā vidyeśvarapadaṃ vrajet | tatra vidyeśvaraiḥsārddhaṃ bhuktvā bhogān bahūn kramāt

Having enjoyed manifold pleasures, he attains the rank of a Vidyeśvara; there, together with the Vidyeśvaras, having enjoyed many pleasures in due course —

Verse 28 (shiva.vayaviya.63.28)

अण्डस्यान्तर्बहिर्वाथ सकृदावर्तते पुनः । ततो लब्ध्वा शिवज्ञानं परां भक्तिमवाप्य च

aṇḍasyāntarbahirvātha sakṛdāvartate punaḥ | tato labdhvā śivajñānaṃ parāṃ bhaktimavāpya ca

whether within the cosmic Egg or beyond it, he circles round once again; then, having obtained the knowledge of Śiva, and having gained supreme devotion —

Verse 29 (shiva.vayaviya.63.29)

शिवसाधर्म्यमासाद्य न भूयो विनिवर्तते । यश्चातीव शिवे भक्तो विषयासक्तचित्तवत्

śivasādharmyamāsādya na bhūyo vinivartate | yaścātīva śive bhakto viṣayāsaktacittavat

having attained equality of nature with Śiva, he does not return again; and he who is exceedingly devoted to Śiva is not like one whose mind is attached to sense-objects —

Verse 30 (shiva.vayaviya.63.30)

शिवधर्मानसौ कुर्वन्नकुर्वन् वापि मुच्यते । एकावृत्तो द्विरावृत्तस्त्रिरावृत्तो निवर्तकः

śivadharmānasau kurvannakurvan vāpi mucyate | ekāvṛtto dvirāvṛttastrirāvṛtto nivartakaḥ

whether performing the duties of Śaiva dharma or not performing them, he is liberated; one who returns once, one who returns twice, one who returns thrice — these are all classed among those who return.

Verse 31 (shiva.vayaviya.63.31)

न पुनश्चक्रवर्ती स्यात् शिवधर्माधिकारवान् । तस्मात् शिवाश्रितो भूत्वा येन केनापि हेतुना

na punaścakravartī syāt śivadharmādhikāravān | tasmāt śivāśrito bhūtvā yena kenāpi hetunā

He who has the right to Śaiva dharma never again becomes one who revolves in the cycle of rebirth; therefore, for whatever reason, having taken refuge in Śiva —

Verse 32 (shiva.vayaviya.63.32)

शिवधर्मे मतिं कुर्यात् श्रेयसे चेत्कृतोद्यमः । नात्र निर्बन्धयिष्यामो वयं कञ्चन केनचित्

śivadharme matiṃ kuryāt śreyase cetkṛtodyamaḥ | nātra nirbandhayiṣyāmo vayaṃ kañcana kenacit

one should fix the mind on Śaiva dharma, if he is striving for his own good; here we shall not compel anyone to anything by force.

Verse 33 (shiva.vayaviya.63.33)

निर्बन्धेभ्योऽतिवादेभ्यः प्रकृत्यैतन्न रोचते । रोचते वा परेभ्यस्तु पुण्यसंस्कारगौरवात्

nirbandhebhyo'tivādebhyaḥ prakṛtyaitanna rocate | rocate vā parebhyastu puṇyasaṃskāragauravāt

By compulsion and excessive insistence, this teaching does not, by its very nature, become pleasing; but through the weight of meritorious past impressions, it becomes pleasing to others.

Verse 34 (shiva.vayaviya.63.34)

संसारकारणं येषां न प्ररोढुमलं भवेत् । प्रकृत्यनुगुणं तस्माद्विमृश्यैतदशेषतः

saṃsārakāraṇaṃ yeṣāṃ na praroḍhumalaṃ bhavet | prakṛtyanuguṇaṃ tasmādvimṛśyaitadaśeṣataḥ

only for those whose cause of continued transmigration is no longer capable of sprouting does this become naturally fitting; therefore, having deliberated fully upon this entire teaching —

Verse 35 (shiva.vayaviya.63.35)

शिवधर्मेऽधिकुर्वीत यदीच्छेच्छिवमात्मनः

śivadharme'dhikurvīta yadīcchecchivamātmanaḥ

if one desires Śiva for his own sake, he should take up the right and practice of Śaiva dharma.