Shloka 45
भस्म–रुद्राक्ष–शिवनाममाहात्म्य
The Greatness of Bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and the Name of Śiva
इत्युक्तं वो द्विजश्रेष्ठा नाममाहात्म्यमुत्तमम् । शृणुध्वं भस्ममाहात्म्यं सर्वपावनपावनम्
ityuktaṃ vo dvijaśreṣṭhā nāmamāhātmyamuttamam | śṛṇudhvaṃ bhasmamāhātmyaṃ sarvapāvanapāvanam
ดูก่อนทวิชผู้ประเสริฐทั้งหลาย เราได้กล่าวมหิมาอันสูงสุดแห่งพระนามแล้ว บัดนี้จงฟังมหิมาแห่งภัสมะศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ผู้ชำระแม้สิ่งที่ชำระทั้งปวง
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti
Sthala Purana: This is a thematic pivot from nāma-māhātmya to bhasma-māhātmya; bhasma is a pan-Śaiva marker rather than a site-specific jyotirliṅga legend in this verse.
Significance: Signals the importance of bhasma as a Śaiva purifier and identity-marker, preparing for teachings on its ritual and salvific significance.
FAQs
The verse marks a shift from the glory of Shiva’s Name (nāma) to the glory of bhasma, teaching that purification culminates in Shaiva consecration—where the devotee is inwardly and outwardly aligned to Shiva through sanctifying means.
Bhasma is a key Shaiva sign and sacramental aid in saguna worship—used alongside Linga-pūjā and mantra—signifying surrender of ego and worldliness into Shiva, the Lord (Pati), who frees the bound soul (paśu).
It points toward the practice of honoring and applying sacred ash (bhasma), especially as Tripuṇḍra with mantra, as a daily Shaiva discipline of purification and remembrance of Shiva.