Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 14

लिङ्गार्चनपूर्वकं स्नानाचमनविधिः

Snana–Achamana as Preparation for Linga-Archana

Devanagari script

प्रक्षाल्याचम्य पादौ च मलं देहाद्विशोध्य च द्रव्यैस्तु तीरदेशस्थैस् ततः स्नानं समाचरेत्

Transliteration

prakṣālyācamya pādau ca malaṃ dehādviśodhya ca dravyaistu tīradeśasthais tataḥ snānaṃ samācaret

Translation

After washing the feet and performing ācamana, and after cleansing away bodily impurity, one should then properly undertake the sacred bath using the cleansing substances available at the riverbank—thus becoming fit for Śiva’s worship and for the Pati’s grace that loosens the pāśas binding the paśu.

Word by Word

• प्रक्षाल्य (prakṣālya): having washed

• आचम्य (ācāmya): having sipped water ritually (ācamana)

• पादौ (pādau): the feet

• च (ca): and

• मलं (malaṁ): impurity, dirt

• देहात् (dehāt): from the body

• विशोध्य (viśodhya): having purified/cleansed

• च (ca): and

• द्रव्यैः (dravyaiḥ): with substances/materials (e.g., clay, sand, clean water)

• तु (tu): indeed

• तीरदेशस्थैः (tīra-deśa-sthaiḥ): situated/available at the riverbank

• ततः (tataḥ): thereafter

• स्नानं (snānaṁ): bathing, sacred bath

• समाचरेत् (samācaret): should perform properly.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Purāṇic injunctions to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It establishes śauca (ritual cleanliness) as the immediate prerequisite for approaching Śiva—washing the feet, ācamana, and bodily cleansing make the worshipper fit (adhikārī) for Linga-pūjā.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is implied as Pati—the Lord to be approached with purity and discipline; the verse frames purification as a means to become receptive to His anugraha (grace), which alone cuts the paśu’s pāśas (bondages).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritual preparation for worship: pāda-prakṣālana (washing feet), ācamana, removal of mala, and snāna using locally available tīra-dravyas—an outer discipline that supports inner Pāśupata steadiness.