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namah", and some such prayers as these: "Through thy favour, oh ĺswara! this rite is completed without impediment: oh look with favour, oh lord of the universe, Hara, sovereign of the three worlds, on what I have this day done, which is holy and dedicated to Rudra! Through thy grace has this rite been accomplished. Be propitious to me, oh thou most glorious! Grant to me increase of affluence: merely by beholding thee I am assuredly sanctified*." Oblations to fire are then to be made, and the ceremony concludes with further offerings to the Linga, and with the Mantra, "By this rite may Sankara be propitiated, and coming hither, bestow the eye of knowledge on him who is burnt up by the anguish of worldly existence **." Brahmans are to be entertained, and presents are to be made to them by the master of the house and his family holding a feast.
Those modes of adoration which are at all times addressed to the different forms of Siva, and those articles which are peculiarly enjoined to be presented to the Linga, form, of course, part of the observances of the Śivarátri. Amongst the forms is the Japa, or
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RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
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[अविघ्नेन व्रतं देव त्वत्प्रसादात्समर्पितम् ॥ क्षमस्व जगतां नाथ त्रैलोक्याधिपते हर । यन्मयाद्य कृतं पुण्यं तद्रुद्रस्य निवेदितम् ॥ त्वत्प्रसादान्मया देव व्रतमद्य समर्पितम् । प्रसन्नो भव मे श्रीमन्मद्भूतिं प्रतिपद्यताम् ॥ त्वदालोकनमात्रेण पवित्रो ऽस्मि न संशयः ।] [संसारक्लेशदग्धस्य व्रतेनानेन शङ्कर । प्रसीद सुमुखो नाथ ज्ञानदृष्टिप्रदो भव ॥]
