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
Ce n’est qu’aux temps prescrits—et non à tout autre moment—qu’il convient de la conférer, et jamais à ceux qui n’en sont pas dignes. Que l’on recueille la cendre sacrée (bhasma) seulement tant que la Divinité n’a pas encore été congédiée du 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.