Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 92
पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow
भस्मनिष्ठस्य नश्यन्ति देषा भस्माग्निसंगमात् । भस्मस्नानविशुद्धात्मा भस्मनिष्ठ इति स्मृतः
bhasmaniṣṭhasya naśyanti deṣā bhasmāgnisaṃgamāt | bhasmasnānaviśuddhātmā bhasmaniṣṭha iti smṛtaḥ
Bagi orang yang teguh berpegang pada bhasma, segala kekotoran lenyap melalui pertemuan abu suci dan api penyucian. Dia yang batinnya disucikan dengan mandi bhasma dikenang dalam tradisi sebagai “bhasmaniṣṭha”, yakni yang mantap dalam bhasma.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Frames bhasma as a continual purifier: doṣa-kṣaya through bhasma–agni ‘saṅgama’ (contact), echoing the idea that karmic accretions are burned by Śiva’s purifying power when one maintains bhasma-niṣṭhā.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that bhasma is not mere symbolism: when sanctified through fire and used with devotion, it becomes a Shaiva discipline that burns impurities (doṣas) and supports inner purification, aligning the soul toward Shiva (Pati) and loosening bonds (pāśa).
Bhasma is a mark and method of Saguna Shiva worship—commonly applied while honoring the Linga—signifying surrender to Shiva’s purifying power and remembrance of the transient body, while cultivating steadiness in devotion.
Regular bhasma-snāna or smearing of sacred ash (often as Tripuṇḍra) after sanctifying it, performed with Shaiva intent and remembrance of Shiva—ideally alongside mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara.