Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 82
आदौ स्नानं प्रकुर्वित भस्मस्नानमथापि वा । आपद्गतः कण्ठस्नानं मन्त्रस्नानमथापि वा
ādau snānaṃ prakurvita bhasmasnānamathāpi vā | āpadgataḥ kaṇṭhasnānaṃ mantrasnānamathāpi vā
प्रथम स्नान करावे—जलस्नान किंवा भस्मस्नानही. आपत्तीत कण्ठस्नान (अंशतः शुद्धी) किंवा मंत्रस्नान (मंत्राने शुद्धी) करावे.
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.