Shloka 11
Kṣaura-Snāna-Vidhi — Rite of Tonsure/Shaving and Purificatory Bath (Śaiva Procedure)
तत्रैकां मृदमादाय दापयित्वान्यपाणिना । करौ द्वादशधा लिप्य प्रत्येकं केन क्षालयेत्
tatraikāṃ mṛdamādāya dāpayitvānyapāṇinā | karau dvādaśadhā lipya pratyekaṃ kena kṣālayet
वहाँ शुद्धिकर मिट्टी की एक डली लेकर दूसरे हाथ में रखे। दोनों हाथों पर बारह भागों में लेप करे; फिर क्रम से प्रत्येक भाग को धोकर भलीभाँति शुद्ध करे।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches śauca (ritual purity) as a foundation for Shiva-worship: disciplined cleansing of the body supports steadiness of mind, making devotion fit to approach Pati (Shiva) with reverence.
Before approaching the Shiva-linga (Saguna worship), the devotee purifies the hands—the primary instruments of offering—so the external rite mirrors inner purity and attentiveness in puja.
A prescribed hand-cleansing using purifying earth/clay, smearing in twelve parts and washing each in order—used as preparatory śauca before mantra-japa, offerings, and linga-puja.