Shloka 12
Kṣaura-Snāna-Vidhi — Rite of Tonsure/Shaving and Purificatory Bath (Śaiva Procedure)
पुनरेकाम्पादयोश्च मुखे चान्यां करे क्रमात् । संलिप्याक्षाल्य चाम्भोभिः पुनश्च जलमाविशेत्
punarekāmpādayośca mukhe cānyāṃ kare kramāt | saṃlipyākṣālya cāmbhobhiḥ punaśca jalamāviśet
Again, in due order, one should touch water to one foot and then the other, to the mouth, and then to the other parts of the body and the hands. Having thus touched and washed with water, one should once more sip water (ācaman), thereby re-entering ritual purity fit for Śiva’s worship.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
The verse teaches śauca (purificatory discipline): by orderly cleansing with water, the devotee aligns body and mind for Śiva-upāsanā, expressing reverence and inner readiness—an outer act supporting inward purity.
Linga worship emphasizes careful preparation; ācamana and washing are preliminary rites that make the worshipper fit to approach Saguna Śiva in the form of the Linga, ensuring the pūjā begins from a state of ritual and mental composure.
It indicates ācamana and bodily purification—touching and washing prescribed limbs with water in sequence, then sipping water again—before commencing japa, dhyāna, or Linga pūjā.