Chapter XL - Maheshvara worship

Sankara said:—O Shankara, describe unto me the adoration of Maheshvari, by knowing which, O great God, men attain to Siddhi.

Hari said:—Hear, O bull-emblemed deity, I will describe the adoration of Maheshvari.

Having bathed first, then rinsed his mouth, taken his seat and performed Nyasa a worshipper should adore Maheshvara in the mystic diagram together with her family, with the following mantrams, O great Ishana.

With the mantram, “O Ye presiding deities of Shiva’s seat, come here” he should, O Rudra, invoke the presiding deities of the seat.

Om, Ham salutation unto the lord of Ganas. Om, Ham, salutation unto Sarasvati. Om, Ham, salutation unto Nandi. Om, Ham, salutation Mahakala. Om, Ham, salutation unto Ganga. Om, Ham, salutation unto Lakshmi. Om, am, salutation unto the weapon.

O Hari, with water for bathing and scents these should be adored at the door.

Om, Ham, salutation unto Brahma, the presiding deity of the habitation. Om, ham, sulutation unto the preceptors. Om, ham, salutation unto the Adhara Sakti. Om, ham, salutation unto Ananta. Om, ham salutation unto knowledge. Om, Ham salutation unto the spirit of disassociation from the worid. Om, ham, salutation unto wealth. Om, ham, salutation unto irreligion. Om, ham, salutation unto ignorance. Om, ham, salutation unto worldliness. Om, ham, salutation unto poverty. Om, ham, salutation unto Urdhachhandas. Om, ham, salutation unto Adhaschandas. Om, ham, salutation unto the lotus. Om Ham, salutation unto the pericarp. Om, ham, salutation unto Vama. Om, ham, salutation unto Jyestha. Om, ham, salutation unto Raudra. Om, Ham, salutation unto Kali. Ham, salutation unto Kalavikarini. Om, Ham, salutation unto Balapramathini. Om Ham, salutation unto her who suppresses all beings. Om, Ham, salutation unto Manonmana. Om, Ham, salutation unto Mandaltritaya. Om, Ham, salutation unto the form of Shiva. Om, Ham, salutation unto the President of learning. Om, Ham, Him, Haum, salutation unto Shiva. Om, Ham, salutation unto the heart. Om, Him, salutation unto the head. Om, Hum, salutation unto the tuft of hair on the head. Om, Haim, salutation unto the coat of mail. Om, Hauma, salutation unto the two eyes. Om, Has, salutation unto the weapon. Om, salutation unto Sadyajata.

Om, Hum, salutation unto Siddhi. Om, Ham, salutation unto Riddhi. Om, Hum, salutation unto Dyuti. Om, Ham, salutation unto Lakshmi. Om, Ham, salutation unto Bodha. Om, Ham, salutation unto Kali. Om, Ham, salutation unto Svadha. Om, Ham, salutation unto Prabha.

These are known as the eight Kalas or parts of Satya. They should be placed in the east and other sides.

Om, Ham, salutation unto Vamadeva. Om, Ham, salutation unto Rajas. Om, Ham, salutation unto Raksha. Om, Ham, salutation unto Rati. Om, Ham, salutation unto Kanya. Om, Ham, salutation unto Kama. Om, Ham, salutation unto Sajani. Om, Ham, salutation unto Kriya. Om, Ham, salutation unto Vriddhi. Om, Ham, salutation unto Karja. Om, Ham, salutation unto Ratri. Om, Ham, salutation unto Brahmi. Om, Ham, salutation unto Mohini. Om, Ham, salutation unto Twara.

O bull-emblemed deity, these thirteen are known as the Kalas or parts of Vamadeva.

Om, Ham, salutation unto Tatpurusha. Om, Ham, salutation unto Vritti. Om, Ham, salutation unto Pratistha. Om, Ham, salutation unto Vidya. Om, Ham, salutation unto Shanti.

O bull-emblemed deity, these four are known as the Kalas or parts of Tatpurusha.

Om, Ham, salutation unto Aghora. Om, Ham, salutation unto Uma. Om, Ham, salutation unto Kshma, (forgiveness). Om, Ham, salutation unto Nidra (sleep). Om, Ham, salutation unto Vyadhi (disease). Om, Ham, salutation unto Kshudha (hunger). Om, Ham, salutation unto Trishna (thirst). O Hara, these are the eight terrific parts of Aghora.

Om, Ham, salutation unto Ishana. Om, Ham, salutation unto Samiti. Om, Ham, salutation unto Angada. Om, Ham, salutation unto Krishna. Om, Ham, salutation unto Marichi. Om, Ham, salutation unto Jvata. O bull-emblemed deity, know these to be the Kalas of Ishana.

Om, Ham, salutation unto the family of Shiva. Om, Ham, salutation unto Indra, the king of celestials. Om, Ham, salutation unto Agni, the lord of fire. Om, Ham, salutation unto Yama, the lord of departed spirits. Om, Ham, salutation unto Nairita, the lord of Rakshas. Om, Ham, salutation unto Varuna, the lord of waters. Om, Ham, salutation unto Vayu, the lord of vital airs. Om, Ham, salutation unto Soma, the lord of eyes. Om, Ham, salutation unto Ishana, the lord of all forms of learning. Om, Ham, salutation unto Ananta, the king of serpents. Om, Ham, salutation unto Brahma, the lord of all the worlds.

Om, Ham, salutation unto Dhulichandeshvara.

O Shankara, a worshipper should thus perform the rites of invocation, installation, making near, concentration and Sakalikarana, and next the assignment of Tattvas, the displaying of Mudras and meditation. He should next dedicate water for washing feet, that for rinsing mouth, Arghya, flowers, water for bathing, scents, unguents, raiments, ornaments, objects of enjoyment, incense, lamps, food. [He should also propitiate the deity] with water for washing feet, water for rinsing mouth, scents, betel, umbrella and Mudras. He should meditate on the form and recite the name and dedicate the adoration and recitation with the principal mantram. O Rudra, I have thus described the adoration of Maheshi which destroys all sins.