SUKSMAGAMA
Abstract
The Sūkṣmāgama is a hitherto unpublished and important Śaivāgama dealing with many Śaiva rituals as they are performed in temples. It is held to be one of the twentyeight fundamental scriptures of the Śaivasiddhānta.
The 3rd volume contains descriptions of a variety of rites and ceremonies concerning Śiva and the Goddess and for the welfare of the society. Many of them are in the form of installations of a Śivaliṅga, of the image of the Goddess and of the provisional temple. Others include festivals such as the collecting of pearls from the sea, the chariot festival, the offering of a golden crown to the Liṅga, the installation of the temple kitchen, tank, well and of the monastery. The performance of atonement rites in order to make up for omissions in various rites, the installation of Nāga and that of the altars inside the temple for bali-offering are also treated in detail.