Shloka 17
Ekādaśāhna-vidhiḥ (The Rite Prescribed for the Eleventh Day): Maṇḍala-racanā, Āvāhana, Mudrā, and Ativāhika-devatā Pūjā
हस्तेष्वाचमनीयं च मौलिष्वर्घ्यं प्रदापयेत् । शंखोद बिन्दुभिस्तासां स्नानकर्म च भावयेत्
hasteṣvācamanīyaṃ ca mauliṣvarghyaṃ pradāpayet | śaṃkhoda bindubhistāsāṃ snānakarma ca bhāvayet
He should place the ācamanīya (sipping-water) into their hands and offer arghya upon their heads; and with drops of water poured from a conch, he should inwardly envision and thus complete their ritual bathing.
Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed Shiva-worship procedure to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Significance: Establishes ritual purity (śuddhi) and devotional readiness; supports eligibility for Śiva’s grace through correct upacāra.
FAQs
It teaches that outer worship must be joined with inner bhāvanā: even simple drops of water become a complete sacred bath when offered with purified intention to Pati (Shiva), aligning the devotee’s mind with devotion and purity.
The verse describes upacāras (services) central to Saguna worship—ācamanīya, arghya, and snāna/abhisheka—commonly applied to the Shiva-Linga, where respectful offerings and consecratory bathing honor Shiva’s manifest presence.
Perform ācamanīya and offer arghya, then do conch-water abhisheka; simultaneously practice bhāvanā—mentally affirming the sanctifying bath—so the rite becomes concentrated, mantra-supported worship (often paired with Om Namaḥ Śivāya).