Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 92
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
भस्मनिष्ठस्य नश्यन्ति देषा भस्माग्निसंगमात् । भस्मस्नानविशुद्धात्मा भस्मनिष्ठ इति स्मृतः
bhasmaniṣṭhasya naśyanti deṣā bhasmāgnisaṃgamāt | bhasmasnānaviśuddhātmā bhasmaniṣṭha iti smṛtaḥ
ভস্মনিষ্ঠ ব্যক্তির দোষ ভস্ম ও পবিত্র অগ্নির সংযোগে নষ্ট হয়। যে ভস্মস্নানে অন্তঃকরণ শুদ্ধ করে, শাস্ত্রে তাকে ‘ভস্মনিষ্ঠ’ বলা হয়েছে।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Frames bhasma as a continual purifier: doṣa-kṣaya through bhasma–agni ‘saṅgama’ (contact), echoing the idea that karmic accretions are burned by Śiva’s purifying power when one maintains bhasma-niṣṭhā.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that bhasma is not mere symbolism: when sanctified through fire and used with devotion, it becomes a Shaiva discipline that burns impurities (doṣas) and supports inner purification, aligning the soul toward Shiva (Pati) and loosening bonds (pāśa).
Bhasma is a mark and method of Saguna Shiva worship—commonly applied while honoring the Linga—signifying surrender to Shiva’s purifying power and remembrance of the transient body, while cultivating steadiness in devotion.
Regular bhasma-snāna or smearing of sacred ash (often as Tripuṇḍra) after sanctifying it, performed with Shaiva intent and remembrance of Shiva—ideally alongside mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara.