Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 96
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
किमन्यदिह वक्तव्यं भस्ममाहात्म्यकारणम् । व्रती च भस्मना स्नातस्स्वयं देवो महेश्वरः
kimanyadiha vaktavyaṃ bhasmamāhātmyakāraṇam | vratī ca bhasmanā snātassvayaṃ devo maheśvaraḥ
येथे आणखी काय सांगावे—भस्ममहात्म्याचे कारण हेच आहे। स्वयं देव महेश्वर व्रतधारी असून जणू भस्माने स्नात (लिप्त) असतात।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Grounds bhasma’s greatness in divine exemplarity: Mahādeva himself is the archetypal vratin (ascetic vow-holder) ‘bathed’ in ash; devotees imitate the Lord’s mode to align with Śiva’s purity and receive grace.
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse grounds the glory of bhasma in Shiva’s own example: Maheshvara is the supreme ascetic who bears ash, showing that bhasma signifies renunciation, purity, and the burning away of bondage (pāśa) as one turns toward Pati (Shiva).
By presenting Shiva as the archetypal vratī who is ‘bathed in ash,’ the verse supports Saguna Shiva worship through visible Shaiva marks (like bhasma/Tripuṇḍra) that prepare the devotee for Linga worship with disciplined devotion and right orientation toward Shiva.
It points to the Shaiva discipline of vrata and the devotional application of bhasma (vibhuti), especially as Tripuṇḍra, as part of daily Shiva-upāsanā and festival observances such as Mahāśivarātri.