Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37
षडध्व-शुद्धिः
Purification of the Six Adhvans / Sixfold Cosmic Path
अग्रेण तस्य मृदुना प्राङ्मुखो वाप्युदङ्मुखः । वाचं नियम्य चासीनश्शिष्यो दंतान्विशोधयेत्
agreṇa tasya mṛdunā prāṅmukho vāpyudaṅmukhaḥ | vācaṃ niyamya cāsīnaśśiṣyo daṃtānviśodhayet
言葉を慎み端坐して、弟子は柔らかな小枝で歯を清め、東または北に面して、清浄と規律をもって、シヴァの恩寵へ導く礼拝の備えをなすべし。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that outer cleanliness and inner restraint (especially control of speech) are part of śaucācāra—disciplined conduct that makes the mind fit to approach Pati (Śiva) and loosen the bonds of pāśa through grace.
Before Linga-pūjā, the worshipper cultivates purity, directionality (east/north), and composure; this honors Saguna Śiva through proper ācāra, which supports steadiness of attention during mantra and offering.
A practical preparatory observance: sit calmly, keep silence or measured speech, and perform dental cleansing with a soft twig—an act of śauca that precedes mantra-japa, bhasma application, and Shiva-pūjā.