Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21
साधक-दीक्षा तथा मन्त्रसाधन
Puraścaraṇa and the Discipline of the Mantra-Sādhaka
मन्त्राष्टशतपूतेन जलेन शुचिना व्रती । स्नायान्नदीनदोत्थेन प्रोक्षयेद्वाथ शक्तितः
mantrāṣṭaśatapūtena jalena śucinā vratī | snāyānnadīnadotthena prokṣayedvātha śaktitaḥ
وِرت دھاری بھکت ایک سو آٹھ منتر-جپ سے پُوتر کیے ہوئے پاک پانی سے اشنان کرے؛ یا اشنان کے بعد اپنی استطاعت کے مطابق ندی یا پَوِتر سوتے کے جل سے اپنے اوپر پروکشن کرے۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Connects bodily purity (snāna/prokṣaṇa) with mantra-power: regular purification supports steadiness in vrata and pūjā, aligning the practitioner with temple-like śauca even outside a tīrtha.
Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya
Type: panchakshara
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that outer purification (snāna and prokṣaṇa) supports inner purity and steadiness in vrata, preparing the devotee to approach Pati (Shiva) with a disciplined, sattvic mind—an aid to devotion and liberation-oriented worship.
Linga-worship emphasizes śauca (purity) and mantra-siddha preparation; sanctified water and ritual bathing are part of the proper upacāra to Saguna Shiva as the accessible Lord who accepts disciplined offerings and purifies the bound soul (paśu).
Mantra-purified water for bathing (108 recitations) and, if needed, post-bath asperging with river water—performed “according to capacity,” aligning ritual practice with sincere devotion rather than mere display.