Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
तत्र पूर्वं त्रयोदश्यां सुस्नातः सुकृताह्निकः । अनुज्ञाप्य स्वमाचार्यं संपूज्य प्रणिपत्य च
tatra pūrvaṃ trayodaśyāṃ susnātaḥ sukṛtāhnikaḥ | anujñāpya svamācāryaṃ saṃpūjya praṇipatya ca
Ali, na ocasião anterior, no décimo terceiro dia lunar (Trayodaśī), após banhar-se bem e cumprir devidamente os ritos diários, pediu permissão ao seu próprio mestre; e, tendo-o venerado plenamente, prostrou-se também com reverência.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Highlights guru-śaraṇāgati as prerequisite for higher Śaiva observance; proper preparation (snāna, āhnika) and teacher’s consent stabilize the sādhaka’s path.
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva discipline of purification and right conduct: bodily purity (bathing), faithful performance of daily duties, and humility before the guru—preparing the seeker for Shiva’s grace (anugraha) and higher worship.
Before approaching Saguna Shiva worship (such as Linga-puja), the devotee aligns with dharma—cleanliness, prescribed rites, and reverence to the guru—so the external ritual becomes an inner offering rather than mere formality.
A practical sequence is implied: bathe, complete āhnika (sandhyā and daily observances), seek the guru’s sanction, offer respectful worship to the teacher, and then proceed to Shiva worship or vrata with a surrendered mind.