We study the existence and nonexistence of singular solutions to the equation ut − ∆u − κ |x| 2 u + |x| α u|u| p−1 = 0, p > 1, in R N × [0, ∞), N ≥ 3, with a singularity at the point (0, 0), that is, nonnegative solutions satisfying u(x, 0) = 0 for x = 0, assuming that α > −2 and κ < ( N−2 2 ) 2 . The problem is transferred to the one for a weighted Laplace-Beltrami operator with a nonlinear absorption, absorbing the Hardy potential in the weight. A classification of a singular solution to the weighted problem either as a source solution with a multiple of the Dirac mass as initial datum, or as a unique very singular solution, leads to a complete classification of singular solutions to the original problem, which exist if and only if p < 1 + 2(2+α)