||Om Nama: Shivaya||

Chapter – 40 – Vindhyeshwara Samhitha – 24 -3

Jala Snanam Malathyage  Bhamasnanam Sadha Suchi:|| Manthrasnane Hareth Papam Gnanasnane Param Padham||

Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Oh! Shaunaka, Jalasnanam/bathing with water remove the impurities of the body, Bhasmasnana/bathing with the sacred ashes keep the Jeeva pure always, Manthrasnanam/recitation of the sacred chants would remove all the sins of the worshiper, Gnanasnana/learning scriptures and religious texts would bring supreme abode.  Bhasma Snanam/ bathing with the sacred ashes provide all those meritorious rewards of the holy dip in all the Theerthas and visiting sacred shrines, it provides the piousness of holy dip in the sacred Ganga on a regular basis.  The person who is smeared in sacred ashes is considered as Lord Shiva, and the sacred ashes have the capabilities to purify the three worlds. The twice-born who performs an abundance of charities, or meditation or recitation of chants without smearing sacred ashes will not yield any piousness. The Vanaprastha, unmarried girls, the person who has not attained Dheeksha should have a bath before noon and smear the sacred ashes on daily basis to achieve intense devotion at the lotus feet of Lord Shiva, ultimately attain liberation. The person who is not adorned in Rudraksha or sacred ashes as Tripundra on his/her body would be considered as worthless. Oh! Mune, I have narrated the Bhasma Mahathmyam in detail, the meritorious reward of smearing Thripundra, it was not easily understandable for the ordinary people so it was remained as confidential. Oh! Munipungava, the Thripundra is three horizontal lines drawn on the forehead, and the body parts, using the ring finger, middle finger and the index finger, provides all the pleasures on the Earth and liberation from repeated births as well. The three lines drawn with the fingers represent nine deities, and the three lines represent Akara, Ukara, and Makara respectively.”