Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 62
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
तद्भस्मधारणात्कर्म स्वात्मन्यारोपितं भवेत् । अघोरेणात्ममंत्रेण बिल्वकाष्ठं प्रदाहयेत्
tadbhasmadhāraṇātkarma svātmanyāropitaṃ bhavet | aghoreṇātmamaṃtreṇa bilvakāṣṭhaṃ pradāhayet
佩持此圣灰（bhasma），则一切仪式之业便内摄于自身，奉献并安住于自我之中。随后以“阿伽婆罗”（Aghora）为自我真言（ātma-mantra），焚烧毕尔瓦木，以制备圣灰。
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Shiva’s worship-method to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya, as typical of the Purāṇic frame)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti
Mantra: अघोरेणात्ममंत्रेण
Type: stotra
FAQs
It teaches that bhasma-dhāraṇa is not merely external purity: it internalizes karma so worship becomes self-offering, aligning the practitioner (paśu) toward Śiva (Pati) through disciplined Shaiva conduct.
Bhasma and mantra are classic upacāras of Saguna Śiva worship; preparing ash with bilva-wood and the Aghora mantra supports Linga-pūjā by sanctifying the body as a fit locus for devotion and remembrance of Śiva.
Prepare sacred ash by burning bilva-wood while reciting the Aghora mantra, then wear that bhasma (often as tripuṇḍra) so one’s worship and actions become inwardly consecrated.