Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 6
शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites
Morning Purity & Bath Procedure
स्नानद्रव्याणि तत्तीरे स्थापयित्वा बहिर्मलम् । व्यापोह्य मृदमालिप्य स्नात्वा गोमयमालिपेत्
snānadravyāṇi tattīre sthāpayitvā bahirmalam | vyāpohya mṛdamālipya snātvā gomayamālipet
يضع أدوات الاغتسال على ضفة تلك المياه المقدّسة، ثم يزيل أولاً الأوساخ الظاهرة؛ وبعد ذلك يلطّخ الجسد بترابٍ مطهِّر ويغتسل، فإذا فرغ تدهّن بروث البقر للتطهير.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadyojāta
Significance: Establishes ritual purity (bāhya-śauca) as a prerequisite for Śiva-pūjā and mantra-japa; reduces doṣa and prepares the paśu for grace-oriented practice.
FAQs
It teaches that approach to Shiva begins with śauca (purity): removing gross impurities and performing disciplined cleansing so the body-mind becomes a suitable support for devotion, mantra, and Shiva’s grace.
Before Linga-pūjā, the devotee prepares through ritual purity; such preparatory acts honor Saguna Shiva’s worship-forms while pointing to inner refinement that supports realization of Shiva as the supreme Pati.
A snāna-vidhi: arrange bathing items, cleanse the body, use purifying earth, bathe, then apply a sanctifying substance—serving as a precursor to bhasma/tripuṇḍra application and focused japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya).