Shloka 4
Kṣaura-Snāna-Vidhi — Rite of Tonsure/Shaving and Purificatory Bath (Śaiva Procedure)
क्षालयेद्वसनं पश्चान्मृदम्भोभिः क्षुरादिकम् । तद्धस्तौ च मृदालिप्य क्षालयेति मृदं ददेत्
kṣālayedvasanaṃ paścānmṛdambhobhiḥ kṣurādikam | taddhastau ca mṛdālipya kṣālayeti mṛdaṃ dadet
ต่อจากนั้นพึงซักอาภรณ์ของตน และใช้น้ำผสมดินชำระล้างมีดโกนและเครื่องมือทั้งหลายด้วย ชโลมดินนั้นที่มือแล้วล้างมือ จากนั้นกล่าวว่า “กษาลยะ—จงชำระมลทินให้หมดไป” แล้วแยกดินที่ใช้แล้วไว้ต่างหาก
Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailasa Samhita’s ritual instructions to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Mantra: kṣālayeti (ritual utterance: “wash away”)
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that outer cleanliness supports inner purity—removing physical impurity (mala) becomes a disciplined prelude to approaching Pati (Shiva) with a concentrated, sattvic mind, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on purification before worship.
Linga worship is approached through orderly upacharas and purity rules; cleansing clothes and implements ensures the devotee’s offerings and service to Saguna Shiva are performed without ritual defect, expressing reverence and attentiveness.
A practical purification rite: wash garments and tools with water and cleansing earth, rinse the hands, and discard the used clay with the intention of removing impurity—serving as a mindful transition into Shiva puja or mantra-japa.