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
Um den Geruch der aufgetragenen Salben zu vertreiben, reibe man (die verehrte Gestalt) sanft mit Bilva-Blättern und dergleichen; danach bade man sie erneut mit Wasser und verrichte den Dienst in voller, geordneter Ehrfurcht nach dem rituellen Protokoll eines Cakravartin.
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.