Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37
षडध्व-शुद्धिः
Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path
अग्रेण तस्य मृदुना प्राङ्मुखो वाप्युदङ्मुखः । वाचं नियम्य चासीनश्शिष्यो दंतान्विशोधयेत्
agreṇa tasya mṛdunā prāṅmukho vāpyudaṅmukhaḥ | vācaṃ niyamya cāsīnaśśiṣyo daṃtānviśodhayet
In gesammeltem Sitzen und mit gezügelter Rede soll der Schüler seine Zähne mit einem weichen Zweig reinigen, nach Osten oder Norden gewandt, um sich in Reinheit und Disziplin auf die Verehrung vorzubereiten, die zur Gnade Śivas führt.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that outer cleanliness and inner restraint (especially control of speech) are part of śaucācāra—disciplined conduct that makes the mind fit to approach Pati (Śiva) and loosen the bonds of pāśa through grace.
Before Linga-pūjā, the worshipper cultivates purity, directionality (east/north), and composure; this honors Saguna Śiva through proper ācāra, which supports steadiness of attention during mantra and offering.
A practical preparatory observance: sit calmly, keep silence or measured speech, and perform dental cleansing with a soft twig—an act of śauca that precedes mantra-japa, bhasma application, and Shiva-pūjā.