Andhakeśvara-liṅga Māhātmya and Śiva’s Subjugation of Andhaka (अन्धकेश्वरलिङ्गमाहात्म्य तथा अन्धकवध-प्रसङ्ग)
घृतस्नानं ततः कृत्वा पुत्रस्य गिरिजा स्वयम् । त्रिरावृत्तोपवीतं च ग्रन्थिनैकेन संयुतम्
ghṛtasnānaṃ tataḥ kṛtvā putrasya girijā svayam | trirāvṛttopavītaṃ ca granthinaikena saṃyutam
ต่อมา พระคิริชาทรงประกอบพิธีอาบด้วยเนยใสแก่โอรสด้วยพระองค์เอง แล้วทรงสวมยัชโญปวีตที่พับสามชั้น และผูกไว้ด้วยปมเดียวให้แก่เขา.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
It highlights śuddhi (purification) and saṃskāra (sacred formation): external rites like ghṛta-snāna and the upavīta are portrayed as preparing the individual to live a dharmic life oriented toward devotion (bhakti) and right conduct under Śiva’s grace.
By emphasizing consecration and purity, the verse supports the Shaiva ideal that worship of Saguna Śiva (including Liṅga-pūjā) is best approached with disciplined, sanctified living—ritual readiness reflecting inner reverence.
A purification rite (snāna) followed by donning the upavīta as a sign of vrata and discipline; as a Shaiva takeaway, pair such readiness with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before daily worship.