Upanishads

Kalagnurudra Upanishad

Krishnayajurveda
group of Upanishads – Shaiva (Shaivite)

Om*. [*This is the 28th in order of 108 Upanishads. Of these, (1) Kaivalya, (2) Shvetashvatara, (3) Atharvasira, (4) Atharvashikha and (5) Kalagnirudra are called the Pancharudra Upanishads, or the five Upanishads dedicated to Rudra. It is prescribed that every devotee of Ishvara should read them daily before breakfast.]

1. Next (follows) the Kalagnirudra Upanishad, for which the seer (rishi) is Samvartaka Agni. The metre is anushtup. The presiding deity is Sri Kalagnirudra. This (Upanishad) should be used by applying sacred ash on the body in three lines for the sake of propitiating Lord Rudra.

2. Om. Then Sanatkuamra addressed Lord Kalagnirudra thus: "Reveal to me, O Lord, the canons of the tripundra (three religious lines applied on the body) and its true nature. Of what material is it made? At what places should it be applied? What are its dimensions? Of how many lines should it consist? What are the mantras? What is its potency? Which is the presiding deity? Who performs it? And what is its result?

3. Lord Kalagnirudra replied to him. The material of which it is made is the ash obtained in fire. Recite the pancabrahma mantra (Satyojatam, Vamadevam, Agoram, Rudram, Ishanam), catching the ash with your hand [in the fire]. Sanctify it with the mantra "Agnir iti bhasma..." etc. (Agni (fire) is Bhasma (sacred ash), vayu (air) is bhasma, vyoma (space, ether) is bhasma, jala (the god of water) is bhasma and sthula (earth) is bhasma), take it out [from the fire] repeating the mantra "Manas toke tanayae..." (Sri Rudram). Mix the ash with water, pronouncing the mantra "Triyayusham". And apply it on the scalp, forehead, chest and shoulders, pronouncing the mantras "Triyayusha", "Trayambaka" and "Trishakti" in three lines drawn transversely.

4. This ritual (vrata), called sambhava, is enunciated in the Vedas by the seers of the Vedas. Therefore, he who desires liberation should practice it to avoid rebirth.

5. Then Sanatkuamra asked about the extent of the application of tripundra.

6. (He replied.) The three lines should cover the entire forehead, from the eyes to the scalp, including the area between the eyebrows.

7. The first line represents the garhapatya fire, the sound "a" (in the mantra Aum, Om), rajas, bhu-loka (Earth), Atman, kriya-shakti (the power of action), the Rigveda, the morning yaga (ritual) and the deity Maheshvara.

8. The second line represents dakshinagni, the sound "u", sattva, antar-iksha (the middle space), the inner self (antar-atma, "intermediate self"), iccha-shakti (the power of desire, volition), the Yajurveda, the midday yaga and the deity Sadashiva.

9. The third line represents the ahavanija fire, the sound "m", tamas, du-loka (heaven, heavenly world), the Supreme Self (param-atma), jnana-shakti (power of knowledge), Samaveda, the third yaga and the deity Mahadeva.

10. Thus the learned man who applies the tripundra of holy ash, whether he is a bachelor, a householder, a vanaprasthta or a sannyasin, becomes purified from the sin of grave offences as well as from the lighter ones (mahapataka and upapataka).

11. He gets the power of bathing in all holy waters.

12. He has the merit that comes from studying all Ved.

13. He comes to know all the devas (deities).

14. He attains the fruit of constantly repeating all the mantras dedicated to Rudra.

15. He enjoys all worldly happiness; after his death he attains mergence in Shiva. He is not reborn, he is not reborn. Thus says Lord Kalagni-Rudra.

16. He who studies this (Upanishad) attains the same position.

17. Om. Truth (Satyam). Thus ends the Upanishad.