Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 66
जनहास्यकरं सर्वं त्वयारब्धमसांप्रतम् । स्त्रीभावाद्भूतिसंपर्क्कः कथं चाभिमतस्तव
janahāsyakaraṃ sarvaṃ tvayārabdhamasāṃpratam | strībhāvādbhūtisaṃparkkaḥ kathaṃ cābhimatastava
كل ما شرعتِ فيه غيرُ أوانه ويصير سببًا لضحك الناس. ثم إنكِ في حال الأنوثة، فكيف تشتهين ملامسة الرماد المقدّس (بهسما)؟
A brahmacārin critic (implied to be Śiva in disguise) addressing Pārvatī
Listener: Pārvatī
Scene: Ascetics warn that Pārvatī’s actions invite laughter and question her desire to touch sacred ash; Pārvatī stands poised, absorbing insult, with bhasma and śūla imagery implied.
FAQs
Social mockery and conventional notions of propriety are obstacles; sincere devotion transcends them.
No tīrtha is mentioned.
Only a reference to bhūti (sacred ash) as a Shaiva mark; no explicit ritual instruction appears.