Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57
ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation
on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva
षडध्वशुद्धिं विधिवत्प्राप्तो वा म्रियते यदि । पशूनामिव तस्येह न कुर्यादौर्ध्वदैहिकम्
ṣaḍadhvaśuddhiṃ vidhivatprāpto vā mriyate yadi | paśūnāmiva tasyeha na kuryādaurdhvadaihikam
Si quelqu’un, ayant dûment obtenu la purification des six voies (ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi), vient à mourir, on ne doit pas accomplir ici pour lui les rites d’après-mort, de même qu’on ne les accomplit pas pour les animaux ; car, par la discipline libératrice de Śiva, il a déjà dépassé l’état de l’âme liée.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It declares that one who has attained ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi—complete purification of the Śaiva spiritual framework of mantra, power, and principles—has effectively crossed the condition of the bound soul (paśu). Therefore, conventional obsequial rites meant for the bound do not apply to such a liberated or liberation-bound adept.
Ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi is typically accomplished through disciplined Śaiva worship—often centered on Saguna Śiva in the form of the Liṅga—using mantra, nyāsa, and internal purification. The verse implies that such worship culminates in Śiva’s grace that severs bondage, making external rites secondary or unnecessary.
The implied practice is formal Śaiva sādhana leading to ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi: mantra-japa (notably pañcākṣarī), mantra-nyāsa, and contemplative purification of tattvas under a proper vidhi. The focus is on inner transformation by Śiva’s grace rather than reliance on post-mortem rites.