Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53

अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः

Agnikārya and Homa Procedure

Devanagari script

शिवाग्नेर्भस्मसंग्राह्यमग्निहोत्रोद्भवं तु वा । वैवाहोग्निभवं वापि पक्वं शुचि सुगंधि च

Transliteration

śivāgnerbhasmasaṃgrāhyamagnihotrodbhavaṃ tu vā | vaivāhognibhavaṃ vāpi pakvaṃ śuci sugaṃdhi ca

Translation

One should collect bhasma (sacred ash) from the fire dedicated to Śiva; or from the ash produced by the Agnihotra; or even from the sacred marriage-fire. It should be well-burnt, pure, and pleasantly fragrant.

Word by Word

• śiva-agneḥ: of Śiva’s fire
• śiva-agneḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (शिव) + agni (अग्नि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhasma-saṃgrāhyam: ash that should be collected
• bhasma-saṃgrāhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhasman (भस्मन्) + saṃgrāhya (संग्राह्य, √ग्रह् यत्/णीय)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Gerundive (णीय/यत्—‘to be collected’ sense), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• agnihotra-udbhavam: arisen from the agnihotra
• agnihotra-udbhavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र) + udbhava (उद्भव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• tu: indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, disjunction

• vaivāha-agni-bhavam: arisen from the wedding fire
• vaivāha-agni-bhavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaivāha (वैवाह) + agni (अग्नि) + bhava (भव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa compound; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, disjunction

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (also/even)

• pakvam: well-cooked/fully burnt (matured)
• pakvam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pakva (पक्व प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• śuci: clean/pure
• śuci: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (शुचि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• sugandhi: fragrant
• sugandhi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (सु उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + gandhin (गन्धिन् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय) / upapada-like formation; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular; qualifying bhasma (implied)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, conjunction

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that bhasma used in Śiva-worship should come from sanctified fire and possess purity and completeness (well-burnt), reflecting inner purification and devotion to Pati (Śiva) as taught in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

Bhasma is a key upacāra in Saguna Śiva worship, especially with Tripuṇḍra; using ash from Śiva-dedicated or Vedic sacred fires aligns the devotee’s outer ritual with the sanctity of Linga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use properly sourced, pure, well-burnt bhasma (vibhūti) for Tripuṇḍra and Śiva-pūjā; the emphasis is on sanctified origin and purity rather than casual ash.