Shloka 4
Kṣaura-Snāna-Vidhi — Rite of Tonsure/Shaving and Purificatory Bath (Śaiva Procedure)
क्षालयेद्वसनं पश्चान्मृदम्भोभिः क्षुरादिकम् । तद्धस्तौ च मृदालिप्य क्षालयेति मृदं ददेत्
kṣālayedvasanaṃ paścānmṛdambhobhiḥ kṣurādikam | taddhastau ca mṛdālipya kṣālayeti mṛdaṃ dadet
Sesudah itu ia membasuh pakaiannya; dan dengan air bercampur tanah pembersih ia juga mencuci pisau cukur serta perlengkapannya. Mengoleskan tanah itu pada kedua tangan, ia membilasnya, lalu sambil mengucap “kṣālaya—lenyapkan kenajisan,” ia menyingkirkan tanah yang telah dipakai.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa Samhita’s ritual instructions to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Mantra: kṣālayeti (ritual utterance: “wash away”)
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that outer cleanliness supports inner purity—removing physical impurity (mala) becomes a disciplined prelude to approaching Pati (Shiva) with a concentrated, sattvic mind, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on purification before worship.
Linga worship is approached through orderly upacharas and purity rules; cleansing clothes and implements ensures the devotee’s offerings and service to Saguna Shiva are performed without ritual defect, expressing reverence and attentiveness.
A practical purification rite: wash garments and tools with water and cleansing earth, rinse the hands, and discard the used clay with the intention of removing impurity—serving as a mindful transition into Shiva puja or mantra-japa.