Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40
पूजाविधिः
Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances
शिवस्य संनिधिं कृत्वा स्वासनं परिकल्पयेत् । उदङ्मुखस्तदा स्थित्वा पुनराचमनं चरेत्
śivasya saṃnidhiṃ kṛtvā svāsanaṃ parikalpayet | udaṅmukhastadā sthitvā punarācamanaṃ caret
Après avoir établi la présence intérieure du Seigneur Śiva, qu’on prépare son propre siège pour l’adoration. Puis, debout et tourné vers le nord, qu’on accomplisse de nouveau l’ācamana, comme purification renouvelée.
Suta Goswami (narrating the prescribed procedure of Śiva-worship to the sages)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: General ritual instruction: establish Śiva’s saṃnidhi (invoked presence), prepare the worship-seat, face north, and renew purification via ācamana.
Significance: Models inner-outer alignment: saṃnidhi (inner presence) + āsana (outer stability) + ācamana (purity), preparing the bound soul (paśu) to approach Pati.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that Śiva-pūjā begins with sanctifying awareness: first invoke Śiva’s presence (saṃnidhi), then stabilize the body-mind by preparing a dedicated āsana, and finally renew purity through ācamana—outer cleanliness supporting inner steadiness in devotion.
Invoking “Śiva’s presence” is the devotional act by which the worshipper approaches Saguna Śiva (often as the Liṅga) with reverence, making the worship-space and seat fit for upacāras; it frames Liṅga-pūjā as conscious communion rather than mere formality.
Prepare a clean āsana, face north, and perform ācamana again as a deliberate reset before continuing worship; this supports mantra-japa and further upacāras (such as offering water, bilva, or reciting the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a purified, steady mind.