Shloka 7
पूजाविधिः
Pūjā-vidhiḥ) — The Supreme Procedure of Worship (Morning Observances
दिवानाथे त्वनुदिते कृत्वा वै दंतधावनम् । मुखं षोडशवारं तु प्रक्षाल्यांजलिभिस्तथा
divānāthe tvanudite kṛtvā vai daṃtadhāvanam | mukhaṃ ṣoḍaśavāraṃ tu prakṣālyāṃjalibhistathā
ก่อนที่ทิวานาถะ (พระอาทิตย์) จะขึ้น พึงทำความสะอาดฟัน แล้วใช้น้ำตักด้วยอัญชลีล้างปากให้ครบสิบหกครั้งตามแบบเดียวกัน
Suta Goswami (narrating Śiva’s prescribed conduct to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Significance: Connects pre-sunrise discipline with sāttvika readiness for Śiva-upāsanā; dawn purity is treated as supportive of steadiness (sthira-bhakti) and receptivity to anugraha.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that disciplined purity before sunrise prepares the body-mind as a fit vessel for Śiva-bhakti; outer cleansing supports inner steadiness (śuddhi) that matures devotion and leads toward grace (anugraha).
Linga-pūjā emphasizes cleanliness and order as expressions of reverence; washing and rinsing before worship is a practical way to honor Saguna Śiva in ritual while cultivating the inner attitude needed for realizing Śiva as the supreme Pati.
A pre-dawn āhnika: dental cleansing followed by repeated mouth rinsing with handfuls of water (a purification akin to ācamana preparation), after which one proceeds to Śiva worship—often with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).