संन्यासाचारवर्णनम्
Description of the Conduct and Daily Discipline of Saṃnyāsa
नाभौ बाह्वौः संधिषु च पृष्ठ चैव यथाक्रमम् । प्रक्षाल्य हस्तौ च ततो द्विराचम्य यथाविधि
nābhau bāhvauḥ saṃdhiṣu ca pṛṣṭha caiva yathākramam | prakṣālya hastau ca tato dvirācamya yathāvidhi
على الترتيب المقرر يُغسَل السُّرّة والذراعان والمفاصل وكذلك الظهر. ثم بعد غسل اليدين يُؤدَّى الأَچَمَنَة (ācamana) مرتين وفق السنّة المرسومة، فيصير المرء أهلاً لعبادة الربّ شيفا.
Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed procedure of purity in Śiva-pūjā to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Establishes śauca (ritual purity) as adhikāra (fitness) for Śiva-pūjā; inner and outer cleansing reduces pāśa (impurity) and prepares for grace-bearing worship.
It teaches śauca (purity) as a doorway to Śiva-worship: cleansing the body in an ordered way symbolizes removing impurity (mala) and becoming inwardly steady and fit to approach Pati (Śiva) with reverence.
Before approaching the Śiva-liṅga (Saguna focus for devotion), the devotee performs regulated purification and ācamana so the act of pūjā is done with sanctity, discipline, and a mind aligned to Śiva’s presence.
A practical instruction: wash specified parts (navel, arms, joints, back), wash the hands, and perform ācamana twice as per vidhi—serving as preparatory purification before japa (e.g., pañcākṣarī) or liṅga-pūjā.