Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 38
Gaṅgā-Avataraṇa and the Naming of Gaṅgādvāra (गङ्गावतरणम्—गङ्गाद्वारप्रसिद्धिः)
अद्यप्रभृति भालानि मृल्लिप्तानि भवन्तु वः । स्रसध्वं नरके यूयं भालमृल्लेपनाद्द्विजाः
adyaprabhṛti bhālāni mṛlliptāni bhavantu vaḥ | srasadhvaṃ narake yūyaṃ bhālamṛllepanāddvijāḥ
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Suta Goswami (narrating a curse/statement within the Kotirudra narrative)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
FAQs
It contrasts Shaiva identity-markers with practices viewed as contrary to Shiva’s injunctions: the verse functions as a warning that abandoning Shiva-aligned dharma (symbolized by proper sacred marks like bhasma/Tripuṇḍra) leads to spiritual downfall.
In Linga-oriented (Saguna) Shaiva practice, external observances—especially bhasma and Tripuṇḍra—are treated as devotional disciplines that support inner remembrance of Shiva; the verse criticizes an opposing forehead-mark practice (clay) as a sign of deviation from Shiva’s prescribed mode of worship.
Implicitly, it points toward wearing Shiva’s sacred ash (bhasma) and Tripuṇḍra rather than clay markings, alongside steady Shiva-smaraṇa and mantra-japa (notably the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as supportive disciplines.