भासत इत्येव यद्भस्म शुभं भावयते च यत् भक्षणात् सर्वपापानां भस्मेति परिकीर्तितम्
bhāsata ityeva yadbhasma śubhaṃ bhāvayate ca yat bhakṣaṇāt sarvapāpānāṃ bhasmeti parikīrtitam
それが「バスマ」と呼ばれるのは、輝き(bhāsata)、吉祥として観想されるからである。また、あらゆる罪を焼き尽くして滅するゆえに、「バスマ」—不浄を灰へと帰すもの—と称えられる。
Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s teaching on bhasma to the sages of Naimisharanya)
It defines bhasma as both auspicious and sin-consuming, supporting bhasma-dharana as a core purifier in Shiva-puja centered on the Linga.
By emphasizing the power that ‘burns up’ sin, it points to Shiva as Pati—the liberating Lord whose grace destroys pasha (bondage) afflicting the pashu (soul).
Bhasma-dharana with śubha-bhāvanā—applying sacred ash while contemplating its purity and its power to consume impurities, aligning practice with Pashupata-oriented purification.