Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
तत्र पूर्वं त्रयोदश्यां सुस्नातः सुकृताह्निकः । अनुज्ञाप्य स्वमाचार्यं संपूज्य प्रणिपत्य च
tatra pūrvaṃ trayodaśyāṃ susnātaḥ sukṛtāhnikaḥ | anujñāpya svamācāryaṃ saṃpūjya praṇipatya ca
Dort, beim vorausgehenden Anlass, am dreizehnten Mondtag (Trayodaśī), nachdem er sich gut gebadet und die täglichen Riten ordnungsgemäß vollzogen hatte, erbat er die Erlaubnis seines eigenen Lehrers; und nachdem er ihn vollständig verehrt hatte, verneigte er sich auch in Ehrfurcht.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Highlights guru-śaraṇāgati as prerequisite for higher Śaiva observance; proper preparation (snāna, āhnika) and teacher’s consent stabilize the sādhaka’s path.
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva discipline of purification and right conduct: bodily purity (bathing), faithful performance of daily duties, and humility before the guru—preparing the seeker for Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and higher worship.
Before approaching Saguna Shiva worship (such as Linga-puja), the devotee aligns with dharma—cleanliness, prescribed rites, and reverence to the guru—so the external ritual becomes an inner offering rather than mere formality.
A practical sequence is implied: bathe, complete āhnika (sandhyā and daily observances), seek the guru’s sanction, offer respectful worship to the teacher, and then proceed to Shiva worship or vrata with a surrendered mind.