Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21
साधक-दीक्षा तथा मन्त्रसाधन
Puraścaraṇa and the Discipline of the Mantra-Sādhaka
मन्त्राष्टशतपूतेन जलेन शुचिना व्रती । स्नायान्नदीनदोत्थेन प्रोक्षयेद्वाथ शक्तितः
mantrāṣṭaśatapūtena jalena śucinā vratī | snāyānnadīnadotthena prokṣayedvātha śaktitaḥ
O devoto observante do voto deve banhar-se com água pura santificada por cento e oito recitações de mantra; ou, após o banho, conforme sua capacidade, aspergir-se com água colhida de um rio ou de uma nascente sagrada.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Connects bodily purity (snāna/prokṣaṇa) with mantra-power: regular purification supports steadiness in vrata and pūjā, aligning the practitioner with temple-like śauca even outside a tīrtha.
Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya
Type: panchakshara
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that outer purification (snāna and prokṣaṇa) supports inner purity and steadiness in vrata, preparing the devotee to approach Pati (Shiva) with a disciplined, sattvic mind—an aid to devotion and liberation-oriented worship.
Linga-worship emphasizes śauca (purity) and mantra-siddha preparation; sanctified water and ritual bathing are part of the proper upacāra to Saguna Shiva as the accessible Lord who accepts disciplined offerings and purifies the bound soul (paśu).
Mantra-purified water for bathing (108 recitations) and, if needed, post-bath asperging with river water—performed “according to capacity,” aligning ritual practice with sincere devotion rather than mere display.