Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57
ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation
on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva
षडध्वशुद्धिं विधिवत्प्राप्तो वा म्रियते यदि । पशूनामिव तस्येह न कुर्यादौर्ध्वदैहिकम्
ṣaḍadhvaśuddhiṃ vidhivatprāpto vā mriyate yadi | paśūnāmiva tasyeha na kuryādaurdhvadaihikam
Se alguém, tendo alcançado devidamente a purificação dos seis caminhos (ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi), vier a morrer, então não se devem realizar aqui para ele os ritos pós-morte, assim como tais ritos não se realizam para os animais; pois, pela disciplina libertadora de Śiva, ele já transcendeu o estado da alma vinculada.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It declares that one who has attained ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi—complete purification of the Śaiva spiritual framework of mantra, power, and principles—has effectively crossed the condition of the bound soul (paśu). Therefore, conventional obsequial rites meant for the bound do not apply to such a liberated or liberation-bound adept.
Ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi is typically accomplished through disciplined Śaiva worship—often centered on Saguna Śiva in the form of the Liṅga—using mantra, nyāsa, and internal purification. The verse implies that such worship culminates in Śiva’s grace that severs bondage, making external rites secondary or unnecessary.
The implied practice is formal Śaiva sādhana leading to ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi: mantra-japa (notably pañcākṣarī), mantra-nyāsa, and contemplative purification of tattvas under a proper vidhi. The focus is on inner transformation by Śiva’s grace rather than reliance on post-mortem rites.