Shloka 44
प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva
शुक्लपक्षे तु पंचम्यामेकादश्यां तथापि वा । प्रातः स्नात्वा तु शुद्धात्मा कृतनित्य क्रियस्सुधीः
śuklapakṣe tu paṃcamyāmekādaśyāṃ tathāpi vā | prātaḥ snātvā tu śuddhātmā kṛtanitya kriyassudhīḥ
శుక్లపక్షంలో—పంచమి నాడు గాని, లేక ఏకాదశి నాడు గాని—ప్రాతఃస్నానం చేసి, మనస్సు శుద్ధి పొందీ, నిత్యకర్మలు పూర్తిచేసిన సుధీ భక్తుడు విధిపూజకు ముందుకు సాగాలి.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not Jyotirliṅga-specific; it fixes auspicious timing (śukla pakṣa, pañcamī/ekādaśī) and purity prerequisites as a vrata gateway to Śiva-worship.
Significance: Choosing auspicious tithis and morning bath (prātaḥ-snāna) is presented as enhancing eligibility (adhikāra) for fruitful Śiva-upāsanā.
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva-worship begins with inner and outer purification—proper timing (tithi), morning bath, and disciplined completion of nitya-karma—so devotion becomes a fit vessel for Shiva’s grace.
By prescribing preparation before worship, it supports orderly Saguna Shiva/Linga-puja: the devotee approaches the visible symbol of Pati (Shiva) only after becoming śuddhātmā and ritually ready.
Observe the bright-fortnight tithi (Panchami or Ekadashi), bathe at dawn, complete daily duties (sandhyā, japa, etc.), and then begin Shiva worship—ideally with mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara.