Shloka 34
स्नानविधिः — गायत्र्यावाहन, सूर्यवन्दन, तर्पण, पञ्चमहायज्ञ, भस्मस्नान, मन्त्रस्नान
बहिरेव गृहात्पादौ हस्तौ प्रक्षाल्य वारिणा भस्मस्नानं ततः कुर्याद् विधिवद् देहशुद्धये
bahireva gṛhātpādau hastau prakṣālya vāriṇā bhasmasnānaṃ tataḥ kuryād vidhivad dehaśuddhaye
വീട്ടിന് പുറത്തു വെള്ളംകൊണ്ട് കാലുകളും കൈകളും കഴുകി, തുടർന്ന് ദേഹശുദ്ധിക്കായി വിധിപ്രകാരം ഭസ്മസ്നാനം ചെയ്യണം; അങ്ങനെ ദേഹധാരിയായ പശുഭാവം ശിവപൂജയ്ക്ക് യോഗ്യനാകും.
Suta Goswami (narrating Śaiva ritual discipline to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, in the Linga Purana’s puja-vidhi context)
FAQs
It establishes the entry-discipline for liṅga-pūjā: first remove external impurity by washing hands and feet, then sanctify the body with bhasma so the worshipper becomes ritually fit (adhikārin) to approach Pati (Śiva).
By requiring purification before worship, the verse implies Śiva as Pati—the supremely pure Lord—approached through śuddhi (purity) and niyama; the paśu (bound soul) begins turning from pāśa (impurity/bondage) toward Śiva’s grace-oriented proximity.
Bhasma-snāna (sacred ash bath/anointing) performed vidhivat, preceded by washing hands and feet—an outer niyama that supports inner Pāśupata-oriented discipline and steadiness for japa and pūjā.