Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57
ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation
on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva
षडध्वशुद्धिं विधिवत्प्राप्तो वा म्रियते यदि । पशूनामिव तस्येह न कुर्यादौर्ध्वदैहिकम्
ṣaḍadhvaśuddhiṃ vidhivatprāpto vā mriyate yadi | paśūnāmiva tasyeha na kuryādaurdhvadaihikam
若有人依正法成就六道（ṣaḍadhva）之净化（ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi）而后命终，则不应在此世为其举行亡后祭仪；正如对禽兽不行此礼一般。因为凭借湿婆（Śiva）解脱之修持，他已超越受缚灵魂之境。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It declares that one who has attained ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi—complete purification of the Śaiva spiritual framework of mantra, power, and principles—has effectively crossed the condition of the bound soul (paśu). Therefore, conventional obsequial rites meant for the bound do not apply to such a liberated or liberation-bound adept.
Ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi is typically accomplished through disciplined Śaiva worship—often centered on Saguna Śiva in the form of the Liṅga—using mantra, nyāsa, and internal purification. The verse implies that such worship culminates in Śiva’s grace that severs bondage, making external rites secondary or unnecessary.
The implied practice is formal Śaiva sādhana leading to ṣaḍadhva-śuddhi: mantra-japa (notably pañcākṣarī), mantra-nyāsa, and contemplative purification of tattvas under a proper vidhi. The focus is on inner transformation by Śiva’s grace rather than reliance on post-mortem rites.