Shloka 23
Sadācāra–Varṇa-lakṣaṇa and Prātaḥkṛtya
Right Conduct, Social Typologies, and Morning Purification
पादे मूर्ध्नि हृदि चैव मूर्ध्नि हृत्पाद एव च । हृत्पादमूर्ध्नि संप्रोक्ष्य मंत्रस्नानं विदुर्बुधाः
pāde mūrdhni hṛdi caiva mūrdhni hṛtpāda eva ca | hṛtpādamūrdhni saṃprokṣya maṃtrasnānaṃ vidurbudhāḥ
Après avoir aspergé l’eau purificatrice sur les pieds, la tête et le cœur—puis de nouveau sur la tête, le cœur et les pieds—consacrant ainsi, dans l’ordre prescrit, le cœur, les pieds et la tête, les sages reconnaissent ce rite comme le « bain de mantra » (mantra-snāna), la purification intérieure accomplie par le mantra sacré dans le culte de Śiva.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Mantra-snāna functions as inner/outer readiness for darśana and pūjā; it is a practical ‘adhikāra-śuddhi’ that supports the soul’s approach to Pati.
Type: rudram
Role: teaching
FAQs
It defines “mantra-snāna” as a sacred inner cleansing: by consecrating head (thought), heart (devotion), and feet (conduct), the devotee aligns body-mind with Shiva (Pati), loosening impurities (pāśa) that bind the soul (paśu).
In Linga worship, purity is not only external; this sprinkling with mantra ritually prepares the worshipper to approach Saguna Shiva in the Linga with reverence, making the body a fit vessel for offering, japa, and abhiṣeka.
Perform mantra-snāna by sprinkling sanctified water while reciting Shiva-mantra (commonly the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), consecrating feet, head, and heart as a brief but complete purification before puja or japa.