Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15
पूजाविधिः
Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances
उच्छिष्टेनैव वस्त्रेण न स्नायात्स कदाचन । शुद्धवस्त्रेण संस्नायात्तद्देवस्मरपूर्वकम्
ucchiṣṭenaiva vastreṇa na snāyātsa kadācana | śuddhavastreṇa saṃsnāyāttaddevasmarapūrvakam
उच्छिष्ट (अपवित्र) वस्त्राने कधीही स्नान करू नये। शुद्ध वस्त्राने स्नान करावे आणि प्रथम त्या देव—भगवान शिव—यांचे स्मरण करावे।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Frames snāna as pūrvāṅga of Śiva-upāsanā: external cleanliness (śuddha-vastra) joined to internal recollection (deva-smaraṇa) makes the act a vehicle for purification and receptivity to Śiva’s grace.
Type: panchakshara
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that external purity supports inner purity: bathing should be done with cleanliness and with conscious remembrance of Śiva, transforming a routine act into a devotional purification aligned with Shaiva discipline.
Linga-worship emphasizes śauca (cleanliness) and bhāva (devotional intent). Using a clean cloth and remembering the Deity prepares the body-mind for approaching Saguna Śiva in the form of the Linga with reverence and ritual fitness.
Perform snāna with a clean cloth and begin with deva-smaraṇa—mentally invoking Śiva (often with the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before continuing with daily pūjā practices such as bhasma or mantra-japa where appropriate.