मुक्तयतिदेहसंस्काररहस्यं — The Esoteric Rites for the Bodies of Liberated Ascetics
कौपीनादीनि संत्यज्य पुनरन्यानि धारयेत् । भस्मनोद्धूलयेत्तस्य सर्वांगं विधिना ततः
kaupīnādīni saṃtyajya punaranyāni dhārayet | bhasmanoddhūlayettasya sarvāṃgaṃ vidhinā tataḥ
ਕੌਪੀਨ ਆਦਿ ਤਿਆਗ ਕੇ ਫਿਰ ਹੋਰ ਸ਼ੁੱਧ ਵਸਤ੍ਰ ਧਾਰੇ। ਉਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਿਧੀ ਅਨੁਸਾਰ ਸਾਰੇ ਅੰਗਾਂ ਉੱਤੇ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਭਸਮ ਲਗਾ ਕੇ ਧੂੜੀਲਾ ਕਰੇ।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti
It teaches ritual purity and Shaiva identity: changing into clean garments and applying bhasma signifies inner renunciation (vairāgya), remembrance of impermanence, and dedication to Pati (Shiva) as the liberating Lord.
Bhasma is a key Shaiva observance performed as preparation for Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—marking the body as offered to Shiva and aligning the devotee with prescribed Śaiva rites.
A preparatory observance: discard soiled clothing, wear fresh cloth, and smear/dust the body with bhasma according to vidhi (often alongside Tripuṇḍra and mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’).