Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
पूजाविधिः
Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances
पुनराचमनं कृत्वा त्रिवारं मंत्रपूर्वकम् । एकं वाथ प्रकुर्याच्च गंगाबिन्दुरिति ब्रुवन्
punarācamanaṃ kṛtvā trivāraṃ maṃtrapūrvakam | ekaṃ vātha prakuryācca gaṃgābinduriti bruvan
મંત્રપૂર્વક ફરી આચમન કરીને ત્રણ વાર જળ પીવું. અથવા ‘ગંગાબિંદુ’ કહીને એક વાર જ આચમન કરીને ક્રિયાને પવિત્ર કરવી.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s prescribed ritual conduct to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Viśvanātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: The verse invokes Gaṅgā sanctity (‘gaṅgā-binduḥ’). In Śaiva tīrtha-imagination, Gaṅgā is borne on Śiva’s matted locks and purifies all rites; Kāśī Viśvanātha is paradigmatically linked with Gaṅgā as the ever-present purifier for ācamana and snāna.
Significance: Gaṅgā-associated purification supports eligibility for pūjā/japa; Kāśī–Gaṅgā–Viśvanātha triad is famed for granting pāpa-kṣaya and strengthening Śiva-smaraṇa.
Mantra: gaṅgābinduḥ
FAQs
It teaches that purification is not merely physical: mantra-infused ācamana aligns the worshipper’s body and intention, making the act fit for Shiva-pūjā and steadying the mind for devotion.
Before approaching the Śiva-liṅga (Saguna worship), the devotee performs prescribed ācamana so the offering and the worshipper’s state are ritually and mentally purified, honoring Shiva’s worship-standards (ācāra).
Perform ācamana three times with mantra; if circumstances require brevity, do it once while uttering “gaṅgā-binduḥ,” mentally consecrating the water as sacred and entering worship with focused remembrance.