Shloka 9
Adhyaya 34: भस्ममहात्म्यं—अग्नीषोमात्मक-शिवतत्त्वं तथा पाशुपतव्रतप्रशंसा
तदाप्रभृति लोकेषु रक्षार्थमशुभेषु च भस्मना क्रियते रक्षा सूतिकानां गृहेषु च
tadāprabhṛti lokeṣu rakṣārthamaśubheṣu ca bhasmanā kriyate rakṣā sūtikānāṃ gṛheṣu ca
ومنذ ذلك الحين، في العوالم، لأجل الحماية وكذلك لدفع التأثيرات المشؤومة، تُجرى الحراسة بالرماد المقدّس؛ وكذلك في بيوت النساء اللواتي وضعن حديثًا يُستعمل الرماد كطقسٍ واقٍ.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
FAQs
It establishes bhasma (sacred ash) as a Shaiva protective sacramental used alongside Shiva-centric worship, functioning as raksha against aśubha and as a purifier aligned with devotion to Pati (Shiva).
By presenting bhasma as a universal protector, the verse implies Shiva’s grace as the safeguarding power that burns impurities—symbolically reducing pasha (bondage/impurity) to ash and protecting the pashu (soul) in vulnerable conditions.
A raksha-vidhi using bhasma—applying or keeping sacred ash for warding off inauspicious forces, especially in sūtikā-gṛha (post-partum households), consistent with Shaiva purity and protection observances.