Shloka 44
मुक्तयतिदेहसंस्काररहस्यं — The Esoteric Rites for the Bodies of Liberated Ascetics
कौपीनादीनि संत्यज्य पुनरन्यानि धारयेत् । भस्मनोद्धूलयेत्तस्य सर्वांगं विधिना ततः
kaupīnādīni saṃtyajya punaranyāni dhārayet | bhasmanoddhūlayettasya sarvāṃgaṃ vidhinā tataḥ
Nachdem man Lendenschurz und dergleichen abgelegt hat, soll man andere (frische) Gewänder anlegen. Danach bestäube und salbe man, der Vorschrift gemäß, den ganzen Leib mit Bhasma, der heiligen Asche.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti
FAQs
It teaches ritual purity and Shaiva identity: changing into clean garments and applying bhasma signifies inner renunciation (vairāgya), remembrance of impermanence, and dedication to Pati (Shiva) as the liberating Lord.
Bhasma is a key Shaiva observance performed as preparation for Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—marking the body as offered to Shiva and aligning the devotee with prescribed Śaiva rites.
A preparatory observance: discard soiled clothing, wear fresh cloth, and smear/dust the body with bhasma according to vidhi (often alongside Tripuṇḍra and mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’).