Shloka 22
Kṣaura-Snāna-Vidhi — Rite of Tonsure/Shaving and Purificatory Bath (Śaiva Procedure)
त्रिवारम्प्रणमेत्प्रीत्या साष्टांगं च गुरु शिवम् । पञ्चाङ्गेनैकवारञ्च समुत्थाय च वन्दयेत्
trivārampraṇametprītyā sāṣṭāṃgaṃ ca guru śivam | pañcāṅgenaikavārañca samutthāya ca vandayet
With loving devotion, one should bow three times in full prostration (sāṣṭāṅga) before Guru Śiva. Then, rising up, one should again offer reverence once with the five-limbed salutation (pañcāṅga), and thus worship Him.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: The verse frames Śiva as Guru; repeated praṇāma is treated as a humility-practice that prepares the paśu for receiving śaktipāta/anugraha, the true ‘pilgrimage’ into right knowledge.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that approach to Pati (Śiva) must be grounded in humility and loving devotion; repeated prostration disciplines the ego (a key pasha) and aligns the soul (pashu) toward Śiva’s grace, which is central to liberation in Shaiva Siddhanta.
The verse gives worship-etiquette directed to “Guru Śiva,” supporting Saguna devotion—whether one worships Śiva in anthropomorphic form or as the Śiva-liṅga—by prescribing reverential pranāma as a preparatory act that sanctifies the devotee before mantra, archana, or dhyāna.
Perform three aṣṭāṅga (full) prostrations, then rise and offer one pañcāṅga salutation; this can be integrated before japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and before applying bhasma/tripuṇḍra or commencing liṅga-pūjā.