Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 29
शिवाश्रम-नित्यनैमित्तिककर्मविधिः / Śaiva Āśrama-Duties: Daily and Occasional Rites
Morning Purity & Bath Procedure
बुद्ध्वेशानादिसद्यांतं पञ्चब्रह्ममयं शिवम् । गृहीत्वा भसितं मन्त्रैर्विमृज्याङ्गानि संस्पृशेत्
buddhveśānādisadyāṃtaṃ pañcabrahmamayaṃ śivam | gṛhītvā bhasitaṃ mantrairvimṛjyāṅgāni saṃspṛśet
了悟湿婆为五梵之体（Pañca-brahman）——自伊沙那（Īśāna）起，至萨德约阇多（Sadyojāta）终——当取圣灰（bhasma），随诵诸真言而涂抹揉入，并触及身之诸肢，以作净化加持。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Ishana
Significance: Pañcabrahma-jñāna and bhasma-dhāraṇa mark the Śaiva as one who remembers impermanence and turns from pāśa (bondage) toward Pati; bhasma is both purification and a sign of Śiva-sāmīpya.
Mantra: (Pañcabrahma mantras implied: Īśāna, Tatpuruṣa, Aghora, Vāmadeva, Sadyojāta)
Type: rudram
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that bhasma is not mere outer ornamentation: when applied with the awareness of Śiva as Pañcabrahma, the body is consecrated as an instrument of worship, aligning the practitioner (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) and loosening bondage (pāśa).
The Pañcabrahma doctrine presents Saguna Śiva as manifest through five sacred aspects; applying bhasma with their mantras prepares the worshipper’s body as fit for Liṅga-pūjā and for contemplating Śiva’s immanent, grace-bestowing form.
A bhasma-dhāraṇa practice: take sacred ash, chant the appropriate Pañcabrahma mantras, and smear/touch the limbs—commonly associated with Tripuṇḍra application as part of daily Shaiva observance.