Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
पूजाविधिः
Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances
पुनराचमनं कृत्वा त्रिवारं मंत्रपूर्वकम् । एकं वाथ प्रकुर्याच्च गंगाबिन्दुरिति ब्रुवन्
punarācamanaṃ kṛtvā trivāraṃ maṃtrapūrvakam | ekaṃ vātha prakuryācca gaṃgābinduriti bruvan
Nachdem man erneut Ācamana vollzogen hat, von einem Mantra eingeleitet, soll man das reinigende Wasser dreimal schlürfen. Oder man kann es nur einmal tun und sprechen: „(Dies ist) ein Tropfen der Gaṅgā“, wodurch die Handlung geheiligt wird.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s prescribed ritual conduct to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Viśvanātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The verse invokes Gaṅgā sanctity (‘gaṅgā-binduḥ’). In Śaiva tīrtha-imagination, Gaṅgā is borne on Śiva’s matted locks and purifies all rites; Kāśī Viśvanātha is paradigmatically linked with Gaṅgā as the ever-present purifier for ācamana and snāna.
Significance: Gaṅgā-associated purification supports eligibility for pūjā/japa; Kāśī–Gaṅgā–Viśvanātha triad is famed for granting pāpa-kṣaya and strengthening Śiva-smaraṇa.
Mantra: gaṅgābinduḥ
FAQs
It teaches that purification is not merely physical: mantra-infused ācamana aligns the worshipper’s body and intention, making the act fit for Shiva-pūjā and steadying the mind for devotion.
Before approaching the Śiva-liṅga (Saguna worship), the devotee performs prescribed ācamana so the offering and the worshipper’s state are ritually and mentally purified, honoring Shiva’s worship-standards (ācāra).
Perform ācamana three times with mantra; if circumstances require brevity, do it once while uttering “gaṅgā-binduḥ,” mentally consecrating the water as sacred and entering worship with focused remembrance.