Vyāsotpatti-kathana
Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa
लसच्छारदबालेन्दुचन्द्रिकाचन्दितालकम् । भस्मोद्धूलितसर्वाङ्गं कर्पूरार्जुनविग्रहम्
lasacchāradabālenducandrikācanditālakam | bhasmoddhūlitasarvāṅgaṃ karpūrārjunavigraham
ಶರದೃತುವಿನ ಬಾಲಚಂದ್ರನ ಚಂದ್ರಿಕೆಯಂತೆ ಅವನ ಕೇಶಗಳು ಕಂಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು; ಸರ್ವಾಂಗವೂ ಭಸ್ಮದಿಂದ ಧೂಳಿಪಟವಾಗಿತ್ತು; ಅವನ ವಿಗ್ರಹವು ಕರ್ಪೂರದಂತೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಅರ್ಜುನವೃಕ್ಷದ ಬಿಳಿ ತೊಗಟೆಯಂತೆ ಪ್ರಕಾಶಮಾನ ಶ್ವೇತವಾಗಿತ್ತು.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages, describing Lord Shiva’s form)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: A dhyāna-style physical description of Śiva’s auspicious saguna appearance—moonlit locks, bhasma-smeared limbs—serving as contemplative support for worship at the described kṣetra.
Significance: Meditating on bhasma and soma-candra symbolism fosters vairāgya and śivānusandhāna; it is also a cue for adopting vibhūti as Śaiva identity and protection.
Type: stotra
Offering: dhupa
The verse presents Śiva’s auspicious, approachable (saguṇa) form: radiant like pure moonlight and marked by bhasma, symbolizing purity, detachment, and the burning of bondage (pāśa) under the grace of Pati (Śiva).
It supports saguṇa-upāsanā (devotional meditation on form) that naturally culminates in Liṅga-worship: the same Śiva who is formless is contemplated through luminous signs—moonlike radiance and bhasma—leading the devotee from form to the transcendent.
Apply bhasma with reverence (Tripuṇḍra), then perform Śiva-dhyāna visualizing His moonlike purity; accompany it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” as a discipline of inner renunciation.