Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16
अग्नीषोमात्मकविश्ववर्णनम् / The Universe as Agni–Soma
Fire and Nectar
योगयुक्त्या तु तद्भस्म प्लाव्यमानं समन्ततः । शाक्तेनामृतवर्षेण चाधिकारान्निवर्तयेत्
yogayuktyā tu tadbhasma plāvyamānaṃ samantataḥ | śāktenāmṛtavarṣeṇa cādhikārānnivartayet
Namun melalui kaedah yoga, abu suci itu—yang meresap sepenuhnya dari segenap sisi—hendaklah membuat diri menarik balik daripada segala hak dan tuntutan duniawi, dengan kuasa (Śakti) hujan amṛta yang mencurah dari batin.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse presents bhasma not merely as an outer mark but as a yogically empowered purifier: when suffused with inner śakti and the ‘amṛta’ of meditative absorption, it turns the seeker away from egoic claims and worldly attachments, orienting the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati).
In Shaiva Siddhanta practice, worship of Saguna Shiva—often centered on the Linga—is accompanied by purificatory disciplines like wearing bhasma (Tripuṇḍra). This verse frames that act as effective when joined to yoga and śakti, making the external observance an inner turning toward Shiva-consciousness.
It points to applying/holding sacred ash with yogic awareness—linking the bhasma rite (Tripuṇḍra) to meditation on inner śakti and the nectar-like flow of realization—so that one relinquishes ‘adhikāra’ as attachment to status, privilege, and possessiveness.