Shloka 95
प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः
The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava
प्राश्याथ प्रणवेनैव द्विराचम्याथ संस्पृशेत् । नाभिं मन्त्रान्वक्ष्यमाणन्प्रणवाद्यान्नमोन्तकान्
prāśyātha praṇavenaiva dvirācamyātha saṃspṛśet | nābhiṃ mantrānvakṣyamāṇanpraṇavādyānnamontakān
Then, after sipping water with the Praṇava “Oṃ” and performing ācamana twice, one should touch the navel, applying the mantras that will be stated—beginning with the Praṇava and ending with “namaḥ.”
Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed Shaiva ritual instructions to the sages, as typical of Purana discourse)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Mantra: oṃ … namaḥ (praṇavādyān namo’ntakān)
Type: panchakshara
Role: liberating
FAQs
It establishes inner and outer purification before worship: ācamana steadies the body-mind, and touching the navel with Praṇava-based mantras sanctifies the practitioner’s vital center for Shaiva sādhana oriented to Pati (Shiva) and liberation.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is preceded by mantra-purification and nyāsa; beginning with Oṃ and concluding with ‘namaḥ’ frames the act as surrender to Saguna Shiva, making the worship an offering rather than mere ritual action.
Perform ācamana with Oṃ, repeat ācamana twice, then do a simple aṅga-nyāsa by touching the navel while reciting mantras that start with Oṃ and end with namaḥ—preparing for subsequent Shiva mantra-japa or Linga-pūjā.