Shloka : 149

कर्तव्यं कारणीयं वा श्रावणे मासि सर्वथा ।

बिल्वपत्रादिभि: प्रीत्या श्रीमहादेवपूजनम् ॥ 149 ॥

અને શ્રાવણ માસને વિષે, શ્રીમહાદેવનું પૂજન જે તે, બિલ્વપત્રાદિકે કરીને પ્રીતિપૂર્વક સર્વપ્રકારે પોતે કરવું; અથવા બીજા પાસે કરાવવું. ॥ 149 ॥

And during the month of 'Shravan', worship to Shri Mahadev should be performed personally using Bilvapatra, etc. with great affection or get it performed by someone else. || 149 ||

Commentary

Shri Hari appeared on this earth and started the uninterrupted flow of ultimate salvation. Shri Hari inspired His Muktas to incarnate on earth, to give the proper knowledge of His divine form to the living beings of this earth. Therefore, the Param Ekantik Muktas or Anadimuktas are always prevailing on this earth, to continue the phenomenon of the ultimate salva­tion. Such Muktas who are liberated from the bondage of 'Maya' and united within the divine form of Shri Hari are called 'Shiva'. (This is the direct meaning of 'Shiva', indirectly ‘Shiva’ means 'Mahadevji').

When such 'Shiva' i.e. the God-realized Muktas, who have attained the unity with the divine form of Shri Hari are around and one can recognize them and be in their contact, such time period should be considered as the month of 'Shravan'. And to offer Bilvapatra means serving such Muktas through thoughts, deeds and words as well as food, clothes, fruits etc.

Thus, such Maha Anadimuktas who appear in human form on earth to liberate the living beings through the knowledge of Shri Hari, should be recognized and one should remain in their contact. And they should be served through food, clothes, etc. and one must try to please them. When such Muktas are not avail­able on earth they should be remembered in their divine form alongwith Shri Hari and should be worshipped through 'Mansipooja' and the acts of selfless services should be performed as per their instructions. This is the direct meaning of 'Shivpooja'.