Shloka 26

Kṣaura-Snāna-Vidhi — Rite of Tonsure/Shaving and Purificatory Bath (Śaiva Procedure)

Devanagari script

अभिषिच्योमिति जलं विरजाभस्मलोलितम् । अंगोपमार्ज्जनं कृत्वा सुस्नायाद्भस्मना ततः

Transliteration

abhiṣicyomiti jalaṃ virajābhasmalolitam | aṃgopamārjjanaṃ kṛtvā susnāyādbhasmanā tataḥ

Translation

Reciting “Om,” one should sprinkle water mingled with pure, stainless vibhūti (bhasma). Having cleansed the limbs by wiping, one should then bathe well with that sacred ash.

Word by Word

• abhiṣicya: having sprinkled
• abhiṣicya: Kriyā (क्रियापूर्वक/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-ṣic (अभि+सिच् धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having sprinkled/anointed’

• om: Oṃ
• om: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: oṃ (ॐ अव्यय/प्रणव)
• Form: प्रणव-निपात (sacred syllable)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरणार्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• jalam: water
• jalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (जल प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• viraja-abhasma-lolitam: mixed with pure ash
• viraja-abhasma-lolitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viraja (विरज प्रातिपदिक) + bhasma (भस्म प्रातिपदिक) + lolita (लोलित प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् of jalam; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (virajaṃ bhasma yena lolitaṃ = mixed with pure ash)

• aṅga-upamārjanam: wiping/cleansing of the limbs
• aṅga-upamārjanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (अङ्ग प्रातिपदिक) + upamārjana (उपमार्जन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (aṅgānām upamārjanam)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriyā (क्रियापूर्वक/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having done’

• su-snāyāt: should bathe well
• su-snāyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: su + snā (स्ना धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; उपसर्ग ‘su-’ (well)

• bhasmanā: with ash
• bhasmanā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhasman (भस्मन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (sequencing adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Bhasma-dhāraṇa and śuddhi are treated as preparatory sādhana for Śiva-pūjā; the merit is inner and outer purification enabling worship and jñāna.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It teaches inner and outer purification through Om and vibhūti: ash symbolizes the burning away of impurity and ego, aligning the devotee with Shiva (Pati) beyond worldly bonds (pāśa).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By preparing the body through bhasma-based purification, the worshipper becomes fit for Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—where purity, mantra, and sacred substances support steady devotion and right orientation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple bhasma-snāna practice: chant “Om,” sprinkle water mixed with pure bhasma, wipe/cleanse the body, and then apply/bathe with vibhūti as a Shaiva purification before worship.