Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10
पूजास्थानशुद्धिः पात्रशोधनं च — Purification of the Worship-Space and Preparation of Ritual Vessels
कुशाग्राण्यक्षतांश्चैव यवव्रीहितिलानपि । आज्यसिद्धार्थपुष्पाणि भसितञ्चार्घ्यपात्रके
kuśāgrāṇyakṣatāṃścaiva yavavrīhitilānapi | ājyasiddhārthapuṣpāṇi bhasitañcārghyapātrake
In das Arghya-Gefäß lege man die Spitzen des Kuśa-Grases, ungebrochene Reiskörner (akṣata), Gerste, Reis und Sesam; dazu Ghee, weiße Senfsamen, Blumen und auch die heilige Asche (bhasma).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Significance: Arghya—offered with kuśa, grains, ghee, flowers, and bhasma—symbolizes offering the fruits of sustenance and ritual merit back to Śiva; bhasma marks Śiva’s transcendence over worldly bondage (pāśa) and points toward liberating grace (anugraha).
Role: liberating
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It prescribes the sanctified substances for arghya, showing that Shiva is honored through purity, auspiciousness, and inner consecration—bhasma especially signifies renunciation of ego and remembrance of impermanence while worshiping Pati (Shiva).
These items are standard upacāras used in Linga worship: arghya is a respectful offering to Saguna Shiva, while the presence of bhasma points beyond external ritual to the Shaiva Siddhanta intent—devotion that matures into knowledge and grace.
Prepare an arghya vessel with kuśa, akṣata, grains, sesame, ghee, siddhārtha, flowers, and bhasma, then offer it to the Shiva-Linga with steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a mind established in purity and surrender.