Upanishads

Bhasmajabala Upanishad

Atharvaveda
group of Upanishads – Shaiva

   I am that Absolute Brahman, Who alone, when understood in His true aspect (as one with Atman), completely burns away, turning into ashes (bhasma), the ignorance (illusion, or maya) of perceiving this universe as existing (real) and different from one's own I, thanks to the destructive flame of Supreme Knowledge!

   Once Bhusunda, a descendant of Jabali, went to the top of Kailasa and prostrated himself before Lord Mahadeva Shiva, Who is a manifestation of Omkara and is superior to the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. With great devotion, Bhusunda again and again worshiped Shiva with fruits, flowers and leaves. He then asked Lord Shiva, "Lord! Kindly allow me to share with You the basic knowledge of all the Vedas, which includes the process and practice of using bhasma (sacred ash), since this is the only means of attaining Liberation. Of what is bhasma made? How should it be applied? What mantras should be uttered? What kind of people can do this? What are the rules for this? Kindly instruct me, who am born among the humble."

The auspicious Lord Parameshvara said: "First of all, the devotee, having understood the influence of the celestial bodies at the prescribed time, should obtain some sacred and pure cow dung early in the morning, place it on a leaf of the palasha tree and then dry it (in the sun), chanting the Vedic mantra 'Tryambakam...'. He should then burn this dried cow dung, placed in a suitable place, in any fire available to him, according to the rules laid down in the grhya-sutras of his tradition, and then pour ahuti of sesame mixed with ghee, chanting the mantra 'Somaya svaha.' The number of ahuti should be equal to 1008 or, if possible, one and a half times that. The instruments for pouring ghee should be made of leaves; in this case one does not commit any sin.

   Then, finally, the devotee should offer the svestakrita oblation during purnahuti, uttering the mantra "Tryambakam...". With the same mantra, the bali (oblation) should be placed on the eight sides (of the flame).

One should sprinkle the bhasma with water while chanting the Gayatri Mantra. This sacred ash should then be placed in a gold, silver, copper or earthen vessel and sprinkled again while chanting the mantras of Rudra. It should then be kept in a clean and proper place. After this, the devotee should honor the brahmins with a solemn feast. Only then will he be purified.

Then he should take out the bhasma from the vessel, pronouncing the Panchabrahma-mantras, "Ma nastoke...", "Sadyojatam..." etc., remembering that "fire is bhasma, air is bhasma, water is bhasma, earth is bhasma, ether is bhasma, the gods are bhasma, the rishis are bhasma, this entire world and existence is bhasma; I bow down to this sacred and purifying bhasma, which destroys all my sins."

Next the devotee should take some bhasma properly in the left hand, chanting "Vamadevaya" (this is for Vamadeva), sprinkling it with the mantra "Tryambakam...", and purifying it with the mantra "Shuddham shuddhena...". Then he should sift it nicely. Then he should apply it from head to toe, chanting the five Brahma-mantras. Using the index, middle and ring fingers, he should also apply it to the center of the head, chanting "to the head..." and "O bhasma! You have come out of Agni...".

Then the devotee should fall down before Lord Shiva, chanting the mantra "Somaya...". He should wash his hands and drink the resulting ashy water with the mantra "Apah punantu...". This water should never be simply thrown away.

   Thus this practice of bhasma-dharana should be performed in the morning, at noon and in the evening. If the devotee does not perform it, he will become fallen. This is the prescribed dharma of all brahmanas. Without performing bhasma-dharana in this way, one should not accept any food, water, etc. If for any reason a devotee forgets to do this practice, he should not chant the Gayatri on that day. No yajna can be performed on such a day; no tarpana can be offered to the gods, rishis or forefathers (pitris). This is the eternal dharma which destroys all the trehyas and leads to the final state of moksha.

   This is the daily ritual of any brahmin, brahmachari, grihastha, vanaprastha or sannyasin. Having missed it even once, one should enter into water up to the neck, chanting the Gayatri 108 times, and fast the whole day. A sannyasin who has been without bhasma for even one day should fast the entire day and perform pranava-japa 1000 times to become purified again. Otherwise, the Lord will deliver such sannyasins to the dogs and wolves. In the absence of just such bhasma, any available ash can be used with the prescribed mantras. Such practice destroys any sins that may be committed by a person."

   Then Bhusunda again asked Shiva, "By neglecting what daily rituals does a brahmana commit a sin? Who should then be the object of meditation? Who should be remembered? How to meditate? Where to practice it? Please tell me in detail."

This is what the Lord told him in brief. First, the devotee should rise early in the morning, before sunrise, and, after properly cleansing himself, take his bath. He should purify the body by chanting hymns to Rudra. Then he should dress in clean clothes. After this, he should meditate on the sun-god and apply bhasma to all the specified parts of the body. Then, as prescribed, he should wear a rosary made of white rudraksha seeds. Some recommend the following procedure for applying bhasma:

Then the devotee should perform sandhya with kusha grass in his hand. He should perform japa – Shiva-shadakshara or Shiva-ashtakshara – "Om namah Shivaya" and "Om namo Mahadevaya" – these two mantras. In this is the highest truth and the greatest teaching. I am That Very Great Lord Shiva, the God of all gods, the Supreme Lord of all universes. I am the impersonal Brahman, I am Omkara, I am the Creator, Preserver and Destroyer of everything. Only in My fear is everything done properly. I am this world and the five elements. I am the Truth, the Highest of all existence, Brahman Upaiyishad. This is the greatest vidya. I am the only Giver of moksha. Therefore, ultimately, everyone comes to Me for help. That is why I absorb in My Being those creatures who leave their pranas in Varanasi, which is on the top of My trishula (trident). Therefore, Varanasi alone is fit for penance. Under no circumstances should Varanasi be abandoned. Everyone should strive to reside in Varanasi as long as he or she can. There is no better place than Varanasi. Even in Varanasi, the most celebrated is the temple of Shiva, where in the east is wealth, in the south is vichara, in the west is vairagya, and in the north is jnana. In the middle, worship should be made to Me, the Eternal Spirit. This Linga in Varanasi does not shine with the light of the sun, moon, or stars. This self-luminous Linga named Vishveshvara is rooted in Patala. That is I Myself. He who worships Me should properly wear the sacred bhasma and rudraksha. I will free him from all sins and sorrows. He who performs abhishekam to Me attains sayujya with Me. There is nothing else but Me. I initiate everyone with the tara-ka-mantra. Those who aspire for mukti should live in Varanasi. I will take care of them. I am the Lord of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. The most corrupted person, whether male or female, will attain moksha if he dies in Varanasi. Other sinners will roast in blazing pits filled with smoldering coals after their death. Therefore everyone should aspire to live in Varanasi, where My Pranalinga itself is located."