Shloka 32
Kālajñāna (Knowledge of Time) and Mṛtyu-cihna (Signs of Death): Śiva’s Instruction to Umā
हस्तौ प्रक्षाल्य दुग्धेनालक्तकेन विमर्दयेत् । गंधैः पुष्पैः करौ कृत्वा मृगयेच्च शुभाशुभम्
hastau prakṣālya dugdhenālaktakena vimardayet | gaṃdhaiḥ puṣpaiḥ karau kṛtvā mṛgayecca śubhāśubham
பாலால் கைகளை கழுவி, அலத்தகம் (லாக்கு நிறம்) கொண்டு தேய்த்து மசக்க வேண்டும்; பின்னர் நறுமணங்களும் மலர்களும் கொண்டு கைகளை அலங்கரித்து, சுப-அசுப அறிகுறிகளை ஆராய வேண்டும்।
Suta Goswami (narrating ritual/observance instructions in the Umāsaṃhitā context)
Tattva Level: pasha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; the verse belongs to a ritual-omen (śakuna) procedure within Umāsaṃhitā, framing bodily signs as indicators under māyā’s veiling power.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It emphasizes śauca (purity) and saṃskāra (refinement) as prerequisites for approaching Shiva’s worship—outer cleansing and orderly adornment support inner steadiness, helping the devotee align with auspicious intention rather than distracted impulse.
As a preparatory observance, it frames Linga/Saguna Shiva worship as a disciplined approach: the devotee purifies and composes the body before offering upacāras (fragrance, flowers), so the ritual becomes a focused act of bhakti rather than mere decoration.
A simple pūrva-kriyā (preliminary rite): cleanse the hands, apply auspicious anointment, and proceed with gandha-puṣpa offerings; mentally, cultivate discernment (viveka) to choose what is śubha (supportive of devotion) and avoid aśubha (distracting or impure).