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
Janganlah sekali-kali mandi dengan kain yang tercemar (tidak suci). Sebaliknya, mandilah dengan kain yang bersih, sambil terlebih dahulu mengingati Dewa itu—Tuhan Śiva—agar perbuatan mandi menjadi pemujaan dan penyucian.
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.