Shloka 7
पूजाविधिः
Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances
दिवानाथे त्वनुदिते कृत्वा वै दंतधावनम् । मुखं षोडशवारं तु प्रक्षाल्यांजलिभिस्तथा
divānāthe tvanudite kṛtvā vai daṃtadhāvanam | mukhaṃ ṣoḍaśavāraṃ tu prakṣālyāṃjalibhistathā
Bevor der Herr des Tages (die Sonne) aufgeht, soll man wahrlich die Zähne reinigen. Dann wasche man, mit Handvoll Wasser, den Mund sechzehnmal auf dieselbe Weise, um äußere Reinheit als Stütze der Śiva-Verehrung zu begründen.
Suta Goswami (narrating Śiva’s prescribed conduct to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Significance: Connects pre-sunrise discipline with sāttvika readiness for Śiva-upāsanā; dawn purity is treated as supportive of steadiness (sthira-bhakti) and receptivity to anugraha.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that disciplined purity before sunrise prepares the body-mind as a fit vessel for Śiva-bhakti; outer cleansing supports inner steadiness (śuddhi) that matures devotion and leads toward grace (anugraha).
Linga-pūjā emphasizes cleanliness and order as expressions of reverence; washing and rinsing before worship is a practical way to honor Saguna Śiva in ritual while cultivating the inner attitude needed for realizing Śiva as the supreme Pati.
A pre-dawn āhnika: dental cleansing followed by repeated mouth rinsing with handfuls of water (a purification akin to ācamana preparation), after which one proceeds to Śiva worship—often with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).