Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15
अग्नीषोमात्मकविश्ववर्णनम् / The Universe as Agni–Soma
Fire and Nectar
अग्नेर्वीर्यं तु यद्भस्म सोमेनाप्लावितम्पुनः । अयोगयुक्त्या प्रकृतेरधिकाराय कल्पते
agnervīryaṃ tu yadbhasma somenāplāvitampunaḥ | ayogayuktyā prakṛteradhikārāya kalpate
Bhasma itu—yang merupakan daya Agni—dan sekali lagi dilembapkan dengan Soma; apabila dipakai tanpa disiplin Yoga, ia hanya layak bagi lingkungan Prakṛti (tabiat duniawi), bukan bagi tujuan Shaiva yang tertinggi.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that bhasma is powerful and sacred, but its highest fruit arises only when joined with yogic purity and right intention; otherwise it remains a practice within Prakṛti, giving limited, worldly results rather than Shaiva liberation.
Bhasma and Soma-water are external supports in Saguna worship (such as adorning the body and approaching the Linga), yet the verse insists that the outer act must be united with inner yoga—devotion, restraint, and Shaiva orientation toward Pati (Shiva)—for it to transcend mere ritualism.
Apply bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) with a yogic attitude—purity, mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and inward contemplation—rather than as a mere customary mark; the inner union (yoga-yukti) is presented as the decisive factor.