Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 60
अग्निकार्य-होमविधिः
Agnikārya and Homa Procedure
कालेषूक्तेषु नान्यत्र नायोग्येभ्यः प्रदापयेत् । भस्मसंग्रहणं कुर्याद्देवे ऽनुद्वासिते सति
kāleṣūkteṣu nānyatra nāyogyebhyaḥ pradāpayet | bhasmasaṃgrahaṇaṃ kuryāddeve 'nudvāsite sati
Only at the prescribed times—and not at any other time—should it be bestowed, and never upon those who are unfit. One should gather the sacred ash (bhasma) only while the deity has not yet been dismissed from the rite.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahadeva
FAQs
It emphasizes niyama (disciplined observance): sacred bhasma is not ordinary ash but a consecrated Shaiva symbol, so it must be handled with proper timing, purity, and discernment, preserving its sanctity for spiritual upliftment.
In Saguna worship of Shiva (including Linga-puja), the deity is invoked and made present through ritual. The verse teaches that bhasma is to be taken while that invoked presence remains—before visarjana—so the ash is received as Shiva-prasada, not as a leftover object.
It points to proper bhasma practice: collect bhasma at the prescribed stage of puja (before dismissal), treat it as prasada, and distribute it only to qualified recipients—supporting Tripundra application and Shaiva sadhana with reverence.