Shloka 44
प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva
शुक्लपक्षे तु पंचम्यामेकादश्यां तथापि वा । प्रातः स्नात्वा तु शुद्धात्मा कृतनित्य क्रियस्सुधीः
śuklapakṣe tu paṃcamyāmekādaśyāṃ tathāpi vā | prātaḥ snātvā tu śuddhātmā kṛtanitya kriyassudhīḥ
في النصف المضيء من الشهر—في اليوم القمري الخامس، أو كذلك في الحادي عشر—بعد الاغتسال صباحًا، يمضي العابد الحكيم، وقد تطهّر قلبه وأتمّ الشعائر اليومية الواجبة، إلى العبادة المقرّرة.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not Jyotirliṅga-specific; it fixes auspicious timing (śukla pakṣa, pañcamī/ekādaśī) and purity prerequisites as a vrata gateway to Śiva-worship.
Significance: Choosing auspicious tithis and morning bath (prātaḥ-snāna) is presented as enhancing eligibility (adhikāra) for fruitful Śiva-upāsanā.
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva-worship begins with inner and outer purification—proper timing (tithi), morning bath, and disciplined completion of nitya-karma—so devotion becomes a fit vessel for Shiva’s grace.
By prescribing preparation before worship, it supports orderly Saguna Shiva/Linga-puja: the devotee approaches the visible symbol of Pati (Shiva) only after becoming śuddhātmā and ritually ready.
Observe the bright-fortnight tithi (Panchami or Ekadashi), bathe at dawn, complete daily duties (sandhyā, japa, etc.), and then begin Shiva worship—ideally with mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara.