Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 42
पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels
घर्षयेद्विल्वपत्राद्यैर्लेपगंधापनुत्तये । पुनः संस्नाप्य सलिलैश्चक्रवर्त्युपचारतः
gharṣayedvilvapatrādyairlepagaṃdhāpanuttaye | punaḥ saṃsnāpya salilaiścakravartyupacārataḥ
لإزالة رائحة الأدهان المدهونة، يُفرك المعبود برفقٍ بأوراق البِلفا وما شابهها؛ ثم يُغسَّل ثانيةً بالماء، مع أداء الخدمة بترتيبٍ كاملٍ وإجلالٍ تامّ على نهج طقوس الشاكرَفَرتِن (الملك الكوني).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Models the ‘rāja-upacāra’ ideal of liṅga-sevā: purity (śauca) and ordered reverence (krama) as a means to receive Śiva’s grace (anugraha) even in domestic worship.
FAQs
It teaches that outer purity in worship mirrors inner purification: after applying offerings, the devotee removes residual scent and re-bathes the sacred form, symbolizing the cleansing of pasha (impurities) before approaching Pati (Shiva) with single-minded reverence.
The verse describes a concrete upachara sequence for saguna worship—anointing, cleansing with bilva leaves, and repeated abhisheka—emphasizing that the Linga is served with meticulous honor as the manifest support for devotion and contemplation.
A practical takeaway is to use bilva leaves to purify after applying paste/unguents, then perform a second abhisheka with clean water; inwardly, repeat Shiva’s mantra with the intent of removing lingering impressions (vasanas) just as scent is removed from the offering.