Bhasma Jabala Upanishad

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for worldly goods, for son and for wife: the three Vasanas or subtle tendencies,

viz., Lokavasana (worldliness), Dehavasana (attachment to the body) and

Shastravasana (blind faith in the scriptures and polemics), and that he should

transcend the three bodies (physical, astral and causal), the three Gunas,

viz., Sattva, Rajas and Tamas and the three states, viz., waking, dreaming and

deep sleep,—and eventually attain union with Lord. The Shastras assure us that

the Bhasma or sacred ash is a divine healer. It cures all diseases, including

the disease of birth and death, and bestows on the devotee who wears it, the

highest wealth, viz., Moksha. Bhasma Jabala Upanishad I am that

Absolute Brahman only which, after being understood in its true aspect (as one

with this Atman), entirely burns into ashes (Bhasma) the ignorance (illusion or

Maya) of considering this universe to be existing (real) and separate from one’s

own Self, through the destructive fire of (Supreme) Knowledge! Once Bhusunda,

a descendant of Jabali went to the Kailas Peak and prostrated before Lord

Mahadeva Siva, who is the form of Omkara and who is beyond the trinity of

Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. Bhusunda worshipped Siva with great devotion again

and again through fruits, flowers and leaves. Then he questioned Lord Siva:

“Lord! Kindly impart to me

the essential knowledge of all the Vedas, embodying the process and technique of

using the Bhasma (sacred ash), because it is the only means for attaining

Liberation. What is the Bhasma made of? Where should it be applied? What are

the Mantras to be recited? Who are the persons fitted for this? What are the

rules regarding it? Kindly instruct me, born from depressed class.” The kind

Lord Paramesvara said: At first the devotee after understanding the influence of

the celestials at the prescribed time, should fetch some sacred and pure

cow-dung early in the morning, keep it in the leaf of a Palasa-tree and then

dry it with the Vedic Mantra ‘Tryambakam’ etc. (in the sun). Then he should

burn that dry cow-dung, placed in a convenient place, with any fire that is

available, according to the rules laid down in the Grihya Sutras of his sect,

and then pour Ahutis of seasamum and paddy together with ghee, with the Mantra

‘Somaya Svaha’. The number of Ahutis should be 1008, or if possible, 1 1/2

times this. The instruments for pouring ghee should be made of leaf; in that

case man does not commit any sin. Then, at the end, the devotee should offer

the oblation of Sveshtakruta at the time of Purna-Ahuti, with the Mantra

‘Tryambakam’ etc. With the same Mantra Bali (an offering) should be placed in

the eight directions (of the fire). That Bhasma should be sprinkled with

water by the Gayatri Mantra. Then that sacred ash should be placed in a gold,

silver, copper or earthen vessel and sprinkled again with the Rudra Mantras. It

should then be kept in a clean and decent place. Then the devotee should

honour the Brahmins with a grand feast. Then only he will become purified.

Then he should take the Bhasma from the vessel with the Pancha-Brahma-Mantras,

‘Manastoka’, ‘Sadyo Jatam’, etc., and with the idea that ‘fire is Bhasma, air

is Bhasma, water is Bhasma, earth is Bhasma, ether is Bhasma, gods are Bhasma,

Rishis are Bhasma, all this universe and existence are Bhasma; I prostrate to

this sacred and purifying Bhasma which destroys all my sins.’ Thus, the

devotee should keep a little Bhasma with the decent left hand saying,

‘Vamadevaya’ (this is to Vamadeva) sprinkling with the Mantra ‘Tryambakam’

etc., and cleaning it with the Mantra ‘Suddham suddhena’ etc. Then he should

filter it nicely. Then he should apply it from head to foot,

with the five Brahma-Mantras. With the first finger, middle finger and ring

finger, he should apply the same to the middle of the head saying ‘to the head’

and ‘O Bhasma! Thou hast come from Agni!’ Places where Bhasma is to be

applied Mantra to be used 1. Forehead Tryambakam etc. 2. Neck

Nilagrivaya etc. 3. Right side of neck Tryayusham etc. 4. Cheeks Vama

etc. 5. Eyes Kalaya etc. 6. Ears Trilochanaya etc. 7. Face

Srinavama etc. 8. Chest Prabravama etc. 9. Navel Atmane etc. 10.

Below right shoulder Nabhih etc. 11. Middle of right shoulder Bhavaya

etc. 12. Right side of chest Rudraya

etc. 13. Back of right arm Sarvaya etc. 14. Below left shoulder

Pasupataye etc. 15. Middle of left shoulder Ugraya etc. 16. Middle of

left arm Agrevadhaya etc. 17. Back of left arm Durevadhaya etc. 18.

Armpits Namo Hantre etc. 19. All parts Sankaraya etc.

The devotee should then prostrate to Siva with the Mantra ‘Somaya’ etc. He

should wash the hands and drink that ash-water with the Mantra ‘Apah Punantu’

etc. The water should never be spilt down from any cause. Thus, this

practice of Bhasmadharana should be done in the morning, noon and evening. If

he does not do this, he will become fallen. This very thing is the prescribed

Dharma of all Brahmins. Without having Bhasmadharana in this fashion, he should

never take any food, water or anything else. Accidentally if this practice is

forgotten, that day, Gayatri should not be repeated. No Yajna should be done on

that day; no Tarpana should be offered to gods, Rishis or Pitrus. This is the

eternal Dharma that destroys all sins and gives

the final state of Moksha. This is the daily rite of Brahmins, Brahmacharins,

Grihasthas, Vanaprasthas and Sannyasins. If this is overlooked even once, he

should stand in water upto the neck, repeating Gayatri 108 times, and fast the

whole day. If a Sannyasin does not wear Bhasma, even a single day, he should

fast during the whole day and do 1000 Pranava Japa, for being purified once

again. Otherwise, the Lord will throw these Sannyasins to dogs and wolves.

In case this kind of Bhasma is not available, any other Bhasma that may be at

hand should be used with the prescribed Mantras. This kind of practice shall

destroy any kind of sin that may be committed by man. Then again Bhusunda

asked Siva: What are the daily rites to be performed by a Brahmin, by

neglecting which he

will commit a sin? Who is to be then meditated upon? Who is to be remembered?

How to meditate? Where to practice this? Please tell me in detail. The Lord

answered all in a nutshell: First of all the devotee should get up early in the

morning before sunrise, and after finishing the purificatory actions, should

take his bath. He should clean the body with the Rudra Suktas. Then he should

wear a clean cloth. After this, he should meditate on the sun-god and apply

Bhasma to all the prescribed parts of the body. He should then wear white

Rudraksha, as prescribed. Some prescribe the following way of applying Bhasma:

Places No. of times (lines) 1. Head 40

2. Chest 1 or 3 3. Ears 11 4. Neck 32 5. Arms 16 each 6.

Throat 12 each side 7. Thumbs 6 each Then the devotee should

observe Sandhya with the Kusa grass in his hand. He should do Japa of either

Siva-Shadakshara or Siva-Ashtakshara. ‘Om Namah Sivaya’ and ‘Om Namo

Mahadevaya’ are the two Mantras. This is the highest truth and the greatest

instruction. I myself am

that Great Lord Siva, God of all gods, the Supreme Controller of all the

universes. I am that Impersonal Brahman, I am Omkara, I am the Creator,

Preserver and Destroyer of all. Through My terror only, all are working

properly. I am this world and the five elements. I am the Highest Truth that

exists, the Brahman of the Upanishads. This is the greatest Vidya. I am the

only giver of Moksha. Hence all people come to Me for final help. That is why I

absorb into My Being those creatures who leave their Pranas at Banares which is

standing at the top of My Trisula (trident). Therefore, everyone should perform

penance at Banares only. Banares should not be neglected under any circumstance.

Everybody should try to live at Banares as far as possible. No place is better

than Banares. Even at Banares, the most celebrated is the temple of Siva,

where in

the East, there is the place of Wealth, in the South, the place of Vichara, in

the West, the place of Vairagya and in the North, the place of Jnana. There in

the middle, I, the Eternal Spirit should be worshipped. That Linga at Banares,

is not illumined by the sun, moon or the stars. That self-luminous Linga called

‘Visvesvara’ has its root in Pathala. That is Myself. I should be worshipped by

one who wears the sacred Bhasma and Rudrakshas in the prescribed manner. I

shall deliver him from all sins and sorrows. By performing My Abhisheka, he

attains My Sayujya state. Nothing exists other than Myself. I initiate all with

the Taraka Mantra. Those who want Mukti should live at Banares. I will take care

of them. I am the Lord of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. The most corrupt man or

woman will attain Moksha, if he or she dies at Banares. Other sinners will be

fried in

burning pits of live coals after death. Therefore, everybody should try to live

at Banares which is My Pranalinga Itself. Sivaya Namah

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