Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43
षडध्व-शुद्धिः
Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path
शिखायां बद्धसूत्रस्य शिखया तच्छिखां गुरुः । आबध्याहतवस्त्रेण तमाच्छाद्य च वर्मणा
śikhāyāṃ baddhasūtrasya śikhayā tacchikhāṃ guruḥ | ābadhyāhatavastreṇa tamācchādya ca varmaṇā
Alors le Guru lia la mèche sacrée (śikhā) du disciple, la fixant par un cordon au sommet de la tête. Après l’avoir liée, il le couvrit d’un vêtement de protection et aussi d’une armure (varma).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
It portrays dīkṣā as a disciplined re-orientation of the seeker: the Guru ‘binds’ the outward faculties (symbolized by the śikhā and cord) and places the disciple under sacred protection, indicating the Guru’s grace that guards the aspirant while inner purification proceeds toward Pati (Śiva).
Before approaching Saguna Shiva in Linga-worship, the aspirant is ritually prepared and protected—signifying steadiness, purity, and containment of distractions—so worship becomes a focused offering of the self rather than a merely external act.
A dīkṣā-style preparation: securing the śikhā (discipline/niyama), wearing protective cloth/armour (symbolic kavaca through mantra), and entering worship with guarded senses—often paired in Shaiva practice with mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara) as spiritual protection.