Chapter 29 — The Great Power of Bhasma

Literal. Trivikrama asks Shri Guru: how did the Harijan get knowledge — and how did it vanish after the bath? Shri Guru explains: I sprinkled vibhuti on him; his knowledge was contained in the ashes, which washed off when he bathed. The chapter then narrates the Vamadeva story: Vamadeva, a Mahayogi, encountered a demon in the forest who tried to eat him; some bhasma rubbed off on the demon, and the demon's sins were washed away. The demon recalled 25 previous births. He received bhasma proper from Vamadeva; the chapter continues with the embedded story of Sanatkumar asking Shankar about purification methods, Shankar giving the tripundra (three-line) bhasma forehead-mark.

Symbolic. Bhasma as substrate for capability and as memory of past lives. Knowledge is stored in the substance; loss of substance is loss of knowledge. The Harijan's reversion is staged carefully.