Chapter XVIII - Mode of worshipping the death-conquering deity (Mrityunjaya)

Suta said:— I will describe the Archna (adoration) ot Mritunjaya (the victor of death) narrated unto Kashyapa by Garuda, which gives redemption, is holy and identical with all the deities.

First Om should be placed, then jumkara and thirdly Virsarga. This mantram destroys death and poverty. This great mantram of three letters is the lord of ambrosia. By reciting it people become freed from death and all sorts of sins. By reciting it a hundred times one reaps the fruit of Vedic recitations and of the celebration of sacrifices at sacred places. By reciting it one hundred and eight times at three periods of junction one defeats the Death and his enemies. He should meditate on the lord of ambrosia, seated on a white lotus, the giver of boons, with the promise of protection in one hand and jars full of nectar in two other hands. He should think of the goddess of ambrosia as stationed on his limb, sweet-speeched like ambrosia, holding the pitcher in her right hand and lotus in the left. He, who recites it eight thousand times at the three periods of junction for one full month, becomes freed from decrepitude, death and leprosy, defeats his enemies and gives peace unto all creatures. He is the [real] worshipper who knows the site [of a temple], the placing [of an idol], the suppression of vital airs, the appearance, the temple, water for washing feet, the water for rinsing mouth, the water for bathing, Arghya, Aguru, pastes, lamps, raiments, ornaments, edibles, drinks, drinking water, Matra, Mudra, recitation, meditation, gifts, oblation, the chanting of glories, playing on musical instruments, singing, dancing, Nyasa (assignment of limbs), yoga, circumambulation, bowing, mantrams, clarified butter, eulogy, (the life-destroying rite) Visarjana, the adoration with six ingredients emanating in order from the mouth of the great Deity.

The Arghya, Padya, &c., should be fanned with a piece of cloth, and then purified with Kavacha mantrams and then the rite of Amriti-Karana (conversion into nectar) should be performed. Then Adhara Saktis^[1] should be adored and Pranayama (suppression of vital airs) should be practised in the seat. Then the purificatory rite of Pinda^[2] should be performed. Then with Agni and other mantrams he should meditate on the self as being identical with the deity. He should then make assignment of hands and other limbs and afterwards adore the self in the form of light stationed in the lotus of the heart. He should then throw shining flowers on the idol or the altar. For the adoration of the door of the self the Adhara Saktis should be worshipped. And bringing one’s self near the deity he worships his family. For the adoration of six Angas (limbs) the quarters should be divided. Dharma and other gods, Shakra and other celestials, the various members of their families and their weapons, the cycles, and the Muhurttas (divisions of time) should be adored. This worship yields enjoyment and emancipation. He should first adore the Matrikas, Ganas, Nandiganga, Mahakala, Yamuna and Dehalya.

Om salutation unto Bhairava, the lord of ambrosia. Evam, Om, Jum, Sas, salutation unto the sun. In this way adorations should be offered to Shiva, Krishna, Brahma, Gana, Chandika, Sarasvati, Mahalakshmi and others.