Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 34
स्नानविधिः — गायत्र्यावाहन, सूर्यवन्दन, तर्पण, पञ्चमहायज्ञ, भस्मस्नान, मन्त्रस्नान
बहिरेव गृहात्पादौ हस्तौ प्रक्षाल्य वारिणा भस्मस्नानं ततः कुर्याद् विधिवद् देहशुद्धये
bahireva gṛhātpādau hastau prakṣālya vāriṇā bhasmasnānaṃ tataḥ kuryād vidhivad dehaśuddhaye
Outside the house, having washed the feet and hands with water, one should then perform bhasma-snāna—the ash-bath—in the prescribed manner for purification of the body, so that the embodied paśu becomes fit for Śiva’s worship.
Suta Goswami (narrating Śaiva ritual discipline to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, in the Linga Purana’s puja-vidhi context)
FAQs
It establishes the entry-discipline for liṅga-pūjā: first remove external impurity by washing hands and feet, then sanctify the body with bhasma so the worshipper becomes ritually fit (adhikārin) to approach Pati (Śiva).
By requiring purification before worship, the verse implies Śiva as Pati—the supremely pure Lord—approached through śuddhi (purity) and niyama; the paśu (bound soul) begins turning from pāśa (impurity/bondage) toward Śiva’s grace-oriented proximity.
Bhasma-snāna (sacred ash bath/anointing) performed vidhivat, preceded by washing hands and feet—an outer niyama that supports inner Pāśupata-oriented discipline and steadiness for japa and pūjā.