25-Shiv Bhasm
Bhasmaadhaaran sanyuktah pavitro nivayataashayah
shivaabhidhaavam yatproktam bhaasanaatbhasitam tathaa
mahaabhasmeti sanchintya mahaadevam prabhaamayam
vartante ye mahaabhaagaa mukhyaaste bhasmadhaaranah
Says
the Shaastra. That which illumines the Shiv
Tattwa is called Bhaasit.
esa eesh bhasm jyotih, sa eesh bhasm jyotih - says the Bhasm Jaabaalopanishad.
Shiv is contemplated as Bhasm / Jyoti Swaroop which is the form of Pure
Consciousness. And hence Param Shiv is called Mahaa Bhasm. Shiv as Chidaagni
in the form of Mahaa Bhasm is called Niroopaadhik Bhasm.
shivaagnyaadi samutpannam mantra nyaasaadi yogatah
tatsopaadhik mityaahur Bhasm Tantra vishaaradah
The Bhasm which is purified with Sadyojaataa iti Panch Brahm Mantra and that
is kept in Shivagni is the Sopaadhik Bhasm.
These are of 5 types :--
vibhootir bhaasitam bhasm kshaaram raksheti bhasmanah etaani panch
anaamaani hetubhih panchabhih rdhruvam
There are 5 types of ashes: (1) Vibhooti, (2) Bhaasit, (3)
Bhasm, (4) Kshaar, and (5) Rakshaa
Asht
Bhooti are 8
Siddhi starting from Animaa, Mahimaa, Vashitwa etc.
Vibhooti confers these 8 Siddhi and hence it is called Vibhooti. That
which lights the Shiv Gyaan is Bhaasit, that which burns the sins is
called Bhasm, that which protects from misfortunes and accidents is
called Kshaar, that which protects from evil spirits is called Rakshaa.
Origin of Vibhooti
The origin of Vibhuti is as follows:
nandaa bhadraa cha surabhih susheelaa sumanastathaa
panch gaavo vibhorjaataah sadyojaataadi vaktratah
kapilah krishnah dhaval dhoomra rakt hastaiva cha
nandaadeenaam gavaam varnah kramenaa parikeertitaah
From the Shiv's 5 faces ie., from Sadyojaat, Vaam Dev, Aghor, Tatpurush,
Eeshaan came forth from Nandaa, Bhadraa, Surabhi, Susheelaa, and Sumanaa
cows respectively.
From Nandaa, Bhadraa, Surabhi, Susheelaa and Sumanaa came forth Vibhooti,
Bhaasit, Bhasm, Kshaar, Rakshaa with the colors Kapila (yellow or off-white),
Black, White, Grey and Red respectively.
For Nitya Karm, Vibhooti; for Naimittik Karm Bhaasit; for Kaamya Karm Kshaar
and for Rakshaa are applied on the forehead.
The origin of Bhasm is categorized in 4 ways:
(1) Kalp Bhasm; (2) Anu-kalp Bhasm; (3) Upa-kalp Bhasm;
(4) Apa-kalp Bhasm; and (5)
The Kalp Bhasm - The Gomaya (cow dung) should be collected with the extreme
care not to drop it on the ground. While collecting this way, Sadyojaat Mantra
should be chanted.
Cow dung balls should be made with Vaam Dev Mantra.
With Tatpurush Mantra, those balls should be dried in the Sun
With Aghor Mantra, should be put in Shivaagni.
With Eeshaan Mantra, Bilva leaf powder and Mulika should be added.
The Bhasm thus prepared is the Kalp Bhasm
If the cow dung which has been collected from the forest, the above procedure
should be followed. This is Anukalp Bhasm.
If the Bhasm is procured from the shops is taken and cow's urine (Go-Mootra)
is added and then filtered. Balls should be made and Panch Brahm Mantra
should be chanted with the above procedure. This is Upa-kalp Bhasm.
If the Bhasm is procured from shops and is not purified with the above
procedure is called Apa-kalp Bhasm.
How to Use Bhasm-Bhasm Snaan
Every Saadhak (at least Shiv Upaasak) should perform the Bhasm Snaan (Vibhooti
Snaan) daily without fail.
Before performing the Bhasm Snaan, one should wash the hands, feet. Take
the Vibhooti (not the Apa-kalp Bhasm) in one's left hand. Observing Maun,
one purify the Bhasm by uttering Shiv Panchaaksharee Mantra 8 times. Then
sprinkle the Bhasm on one's head with Eeshaan Mantra; sprinkle the Bhasm
on one's face with Tatpurush Mantra; then sprinkle the Bhasm on one's
chest with Aghor Mantra; then sprinkle the Bhasm at Guhya Sthaan with
Vaam Dev Mantra; then sprinkle the Bhasm on two feet with Sadyojaat Mantra
and sprinkle the Bhasm on entire body with Pranav Mantra.
The performance of this Bhasm Snaan destroys the Anav Mal says the Shaastra.
Then uttering the Panchaakshar Mantra "Namah Shivaaya" 7 times, one
should apply the Bhasm on the entire body and similarly Tripundra too. While
applying the Tripundra, Bhasm should be taken and placed on the left hand. One
should utter "Agni-riti Bhasm, Vaayu-riti Bhasm, Jal-miti Bhasm, Sthal-miti
Bhasm, Vyom-miti Bhasm, Bhasmeti Bhasm, Sarvam havaa idam Bhasm, Mana ityetaani
chakshoomshi Bhasmaani". Then with Panch-brahm Mantra(s), one should apply
the Tripundra. And later Mrityunjaya Mantra should be chanted. Whoever applies
this Tripundra (the 3 lines on the forehead) is equivalent to performing the
Tretaagni Upaasanaa everyday says the Upanishad.
While performing Shiv Poojaa, one should apply the Bhasm in this way --
One should also get initiated in Shiv Panchaaksharee Mantra from a Sadguru and
perform the Shiv Poojaa daily. Kaanchee Mahaa Periyaaval said that if time does
not permit, at least do the Shiv Poojaa Abhishek with "Aapohishtaa Mayobhuvah"
Mantra and perform the 16 Ppachaar with "Namah Shivaaya" Mantra. This
Poojaa takes hardly 15 minutes. He said that spare at least 15 minutes of your
time for Shiv Poojaa.
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