Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 82
आदौ स्नानं प्रकुर्वित भस्मस्नानमथापि वा । आपद्गतः कण्ठस्नानं मन्त्रस्नानमथापि वा
ādau snānaṃ prakurvita bhasmasnānamathāpi vā | āpadgataḥ kaṇṭhasnānaṃ mantrasnānamathāpi vā
पहले स्नान करे—जल से स्नान या भस्म-स्नान भी। आपत्ति में कण्ठ-स्नान (आंशिक आचमन/अभिषेक) या मंत्र-स्नान (मंत्र से शुद्धि) भी कर सकता है।
Mahākāla
Scene: A devotee prepares for Śiva worship: one panel shows river-bath, another shows bhāsma-snāna, another shows partial neck-ablution during hardship, and a final panel shows mantra-japa radiating purity.
FAQs
Purity for worship is important, yet dharma is compassionate—allowing alternate purifications in hardship.
No specific tīrtha is mentioned; the verse gives general pūjā-preparatory instructions.
Perform snāna before worship; options include water-bath, bhasma-snāna, and in emergencies kaṇṭha-snāna or mantra-snāna.