Shloka 22
देवस्तुतिः — Hymn of Praise by the Devas
Devastuti
शंबरश्शंकरे भक्तश्चिताभस्मधरस्सदा । नियमाद्भस्मनश्शंभो स्वस्त्रिया ते पुरं गतः
śaṃbaraśśaṃkare bhaktaścitābhasmadharassadā | niyamādbhasmanaśśaṃbho svastriyā te puraṃ gataḥ
Śambara was a devotee of Śaṅkara and always wore the ash of the funeral-pyre. O Śambhu, by the power of his disciplined observance with sacred ash (bhasma), he went to your city together with his own wife.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Aghoramurti
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; it highlights bhasma-niyama (disciplined ash observance) associated with cremation-ground symbolism, marking detachment and Śiva-identification, culminating in reaching Śiva’s ‘pura’ (abode).
Significance: Validates bhasma as a Śaiva marker and vow: wearing sacred ash with niyama leads to purification, vairāgya, and Śiva-sāyujya/sālokya imagery (‘your city’).
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that steadfast bhakti to Śiva, supported by niyama (disciplined observance) and the Shaiva mark of bhasma, becomes a sanctifying practice that leads the devotee toward Śiva’s grace and attainment of His abode.
Bhasma-dhāraṇa is a classic external sign of Saguna Śiva worship—honoring Śiva as the Lord of the cremation ground and the transformer of all impermanence—often performed alongside Linga-pūjā and remembrance of Śiva’s auspicious form.
The verse points to bhasma-dhāraṇa (wearing sacred ash/Tripuṇḍra) undertaken with niyama—regular, reverent observance—along with devoted contemplation of Śiva as the inner goal.