Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16
पूजाविधिः
Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances
परधार्य्यं च नोच्छिष्टं रात्रौ च विधृतं च यत् । तेन स्नानं तथा कार्यं क्षालितं च परित्यजेत्
paradhāryyaṃ ca nocchiṣṭaṃ rātrau ca vidhṛtaṃ ca yat | tena snānaṃ tathā kāryaṃ kṣālitaṃ ca parityajet
If one has worn another’s cloth, or touched what is impure (ucchiṣṭa), or kept something on the body through the night, then one should duly perform a purificatory bath; and whatever has been washed (as part of removing that impurity) should be discarded.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva Purana teachings on purity and ritual conduct to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Significance: Highlights bondage through impurity/contamination (pāśa) and prescribes remedial śauca (snāna, discarding contaminated items), restoring eligibility for Śiva’s worship.
FAQs
The verse emphasizes śauca (purity) as a foundational discipline: by removing physical impurity through snāna, the devotee becomes fit for Shiva-upāsanā, aligning outer cleanliness with inner sattva and reverence toward Pati (Shiva).
Linga-pūjā is performed with ritual exactness; contact with impure substances or conditions requires purification first, so the offerings and the worshipper’s state are appropriate for Saguna Shiva worship in the temple/home shrine context.
A purificatory bath (snāna) is prescribed before worship; practically, it supports daily Shiva sādhanā such as clean preparation for mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and orderly pūjā, though this verse itself focuses on bathing and discarding contaminated items.