Śiva Purāṇa Vidyeśvara saṁhitā 24a—Glories of Bhasma
Channel: Consciousness Research Centre
Date: 2022-10-14

Sūta said, “The ashes of auspicious nature are of two types. I shall explain their characteristics; please listen attentively. One is known as Mahābhasma, and the second is known as svalpa (little). The Mahābhasma is of three types: śrauta (Vaidik), smārta (from smṛti rites) and laukika (from ordinary fire). Svalpa is ordinary ash which is of various forms. The śrauta and smārta ashes are to be used only by the twice-born. The laukika and svalpa can be used by everyone. Sages have said that the twice-born should apply the holy ashes while repeating mantras. Others can simply apply them without any mantra. When dry cow-dung is reduced to ashes it is called agneya (fiery). O great sage, this ash can be used for tripuṇḍra. The ashes resulting from agnihotra and other sacrificial rites shall be used for tripuṇḍra by men seeking intelligence.”

This series is also available in podcast format at these links:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shiva-purana/id1644819918
https://open.spotify.com/show/62vkJe2YRw8GGtjBtjyXCL
https://anchor.fm/s/b72cb8b8/podcast/rss

Download Śiva Purāṇa:
https://archive.org/download/siva-purana-part-1/Siva%20Purana%20Part%201.pdf
https://archive.org/download/siva-purana-part-2/Siva%20Purana%20Part%202.pdf
https://archive.org/download/siva-purana-part-3/Siva%20Purana%20Part%203.pdf
https://archive.org/download/siva-purana-part-4/Siva%20Purana%20Part%204.pdf

The same translation is available online here:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english