Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 57
अथोचुः शिवदूतास्ते पश्यास्य शवविग्रहम् । वक्षोललाटदोर्मूलान्यंकितानि सुभस्मना
athocuḥ śivadūtāste paśyāsya śavavigraham | vakṣolalāṭadormūlānyaṃkitāni subhasmanā
ਤਦ ਉਹ ਸ਼ਿਵਦੂਤ ਬੋਲੇ: “ਇਸ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਵ-ਵਿਗ੍ਰਹ ਨੂੰ ਵੇਖੋ। ਇਸ ਦੀ ਛਾਤੀ, ਮੱਥੇ ਅਤੇ ਬਾਂਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਮੂਲ ਉੱਤੇ ਸ਼ੁਭ ਭਸਮ ਦੇ ਅੰਕਿਤ ਚਿੰਨ੍ਹ ਹਨ।”
Vāmadeva (narrating); Śivadūtas speak within the narrative
Tirtha: Bhasma (Śiva-lakṣaṇa)
Type: kshetra (portable sanctity)
Scene: Śiva-dūtas point to the corpse: clear white bhasma marks on chest, forehead, and arm-roots; the marks glow subtly, functioning like divine ‘seals’ that nullify Yama’s claim.
FAQs
Śaiva sacred ash is presented as an auspicious sign whose presence functions as a spiritual credential even beyond death.
No specific tīrtha is named; the verse glorifies bhasma as a Śaiva sanctifier.
Implied practice: bearing/applying bhasma on key body-points (forehead, chest, shoulders/arm-roots), though the verse does not detail the full vidhi.