Shloka 9
Adhyaya 34: भस्ममहात्म्यं—अग्नीषोमात्मक-शिवतत्त्वं तथा पाशुपतव्रतप्रशंसा
तदाप्रभृति लोकेषु रक्षार्थमशुभेषु च भस्मना क्रियते रक्षा सूतिकानां गृहेषु च
tadāprabhṛti lokeṣu rakṣārthamaśubheṣu ca bhasmanā kriyate rakṣā sūtikānāṃ gṛheṣu ca
Desde entonces, en los mundos, por causa de protección y también contra influencias infaustas, la salvaguarda se realiza mediante la ceniza sagrada; y del mismo modo, en las casas de las mujeres que acaban de dar a luz, se emplea la ceniza como rito protector.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)
FAQs
It establishes bhasma (sacred ash) as a Shaiva protective sacramental used alongside Shiva-centric worship, functioning as raksha against aśubha and as a purifier aligned with devotion to Pati (Shiva).
By presenting bhasma as a universal protector, the verse implies Shiva’s grace as the safeguarding power that burns impurities—symbolically reducing pasha (bondage/impurity) to ash and protecting the pashu (soul) in vulnerable conditions.
A raksha-vidhi using bhasma—applying or keeping sacred ash for warding off inauspicious forces, especially in sūtikā-gṛha (post-partum households), consistent with Shaiva purity and protection observances.