The Significance of Bhasma – The Sacred UDI

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The Significance of Bhasma – The Sacred udi

The bhasma or vibhooti is the sacred ash from the dhuni or fire of a

yogi or avadoota. It is believed that bhasma destroys all the sins and

that it links us to the divine. It is called ‘Bhasma’ because it has

the power to dissolve all the evils. Similarly, the the great heat of

tapasya and the churning of the mind in meditation reveals the

underlying subtle spirit of the atman.Literal and symbolic meaning of bhasma

The Sanskrit word bhasma literally means “disintegrationâ€. Bha means

bharatsanam (to destroy), while sma implies smaran (to remember).

Bhasama is thus a reminder to us of the ephemeral nature of life.

Also,if we wish to unite with God ( or the ‘ supreme self’ ) and

remember him constantly, our ego or ‘little self’ has first to be

disintegrated or burnt to ashes. Bhasma is a symbol of this process. It

is also called raksha because it protects one from all fears. When

appled to the forehead before sleep, it is said to keep away evil

spirits or ghosts, whether external or those which manifest fro the

depths of the mind in the from of nightmares.

Bhasma symbolishes the burning of our false identification with the

mortal body, and freedom from the limitations of the painfully illusive

cycle of birth and death. It also reminds us of the perishable quality

of the body, which will one day be reduced to mere ashes. The power of Bhasma :

Bhasma or Udi is also called “vibhootiâ€, because it gives spiritual

power. The Sanskrit word, vibhooti means ‘glory’ , as it gives glory to

one who applies it, protection from ill health and negative forces, and

attracts the higher forces of nature. Another meaning of vibhooti is

‘healing power’, and it is widely used as a medicinal treatment in both

ayurveda and Chinese and Tibetan medicine.

Miracles of Udi are referred in many books of Sri Sai Baba of Shirdi.

Vibhooti is also the name given to siddhis , as it acts as a vehicle

for them. Patanjali’s yoga sutras devotes an entire chapter to yogic

siddhis. Vibhooti also means ‘dominion’, and is the subtle power lying

behind creation, from which all things manifest. From vibhooti or

bhasma , anything can be created by a tantric or aghora , because the

potential of creation lies within it , and he ha penetrated the law and

controlled the elements.

Maha yogi Shiva , father of tantra , is usually depicted naked in

sadhana , his whole body coverd in bhasma. The first verse of the Shiva

Panchakshara Stotram gives the following description; Nagendrahaarya

trilochanaaya, bhasmaangaraaya maheshwaraaya . Nityaaya shuddhaaya

digambarayya – ‘ Salutations to the mighty three eyed shiva, eternal

and pure, wearing the king of snakes as his garland, naked and

besmeared with sacred ash.’ Some other name given to Lord Shiva are

Bhasmashrayaaya(abode of bhasma ) and Bhasmabhootaaya(covered with

bhasma). Covering the body with ash is considered to be auspicious act

for discovering one’s Shiva nature . Shiva is responsible for

mahapralaya, the dissolution of the universe at the end of each kalpa.

At this time he dances his tandava nritaya , the dance of destruction.

The great tantric siddha Avadhoota Dhattatrya and Sai baba of shiridi

were referred to as Bhasma Nishta- one who loves bhasma. Bhasma is

generally applied on the forhead, while many sadhus also apply it on

the forhead, while many sadhus also apply it on arms,chest and stomach.

Some ascetics, especially nagas rub it all over the body. While

applying it, many devotees also consume a pinch.Tripundra

Sannyassins wear three lines of bhasma on the forehead. These three

lines (tripundra) with a red dot of kumkum underneath , between the

eyebrows,symbolize Shiva-Shakti, the unity of energy and matter that

creates the entire seen and unseen universe. The lower line indicates

tamoguna, the basic inertia and darkness, the middle line represents

the rajas, activity and dynamism and the top line represents sattwa ,

balance and illumination. The red hot or tika indicates th power of

Shakti through sadhana , which can take the sadhaka beyond the three

gunas or qualitie to the state of turiya, the forth dimension of

existence. This is the state of trigunnatita – beyond the gunas.Bhasma and tattwa shuddhi

Consciousness manifests as energy, which then condenses into matter. In

the tantric practice of tattwa shuddhi, in order to experience

consciousness free from matter, we reverse the process of evolution

back through more and more subtle dimensions to its original cause.

Bhasma is an integral part of sattwa suddhi sadhana , as a symbol of

purification on the physical, subtle and causal realms of consciousness

.. The process of disintegration undergone in tattwa suddhi is the

breaking down of conscious awareness. Just as we reduce matter to its

bhasmic form, the ‘fire’ of this practice leads us to the realization

of our essential essence. The stages of pratyahara ( sense withdrawal)

and dharana (concentration) takes us through the more subtle states of

consciousness , culminating in Samadhi, the ultimate experience of ‘

Shiva consciousness’.Udi and Panchagni bhasma

The greatness of Guru and the greatness of Udi both are interconnected.

The greatness of udi or vibhooti and its efficacy are described in Sri

Sai Satcharita, chapter xxxiii and xxxiv. According to Sai baba of

Shirdi, all the mundane needs are temporary like the ash. Our body is

composed of five elements and it will one day reduced to ashes. Udi

cures amny ailments, but Baba put great emphasis on the principle of

discrimination between real and unreal .

During the Panchagni the Satchandi Mahayajna , and on the other

auspicious occasions at Rikhia Dham , devotees receive the precious

prasadam of Panchagni bhasma. This is much prized by sadhakas , because

as it has the power of Swami Satyananda’s sadhana behind it, it quickly

helps to raise the consciousness at the time of mantra japa and other

sadhana when applied to the forehead. This bhasma given is from the

Mahakaal Chita Dhuni, where the previously fierce fire of Sri Swamiji’s

panchagni tapasya now lie smouldering quietly under ashes in their

santa roopa or peaceful form. Dhuni is the yogi’s fire , which is the

witness or sakshi to his sadhana . It is also where he cooks, take

warmth, and chants the name of God. ( Maha means ‘great’, ‘kaal’ is

time and Chita is ‘consciousness’).

This akanda dhuni, eternal fire , has been burning in Sri Swamiji’s

pooja area ever since he first came to Rikhia , a place in jharkhand in

1989 and devotees came daily for its dharshan. It was the centre and

support of his life during austerity, and is the very heart of the

Rikhia Ashram. Although Sri Swamiji no longer goes to this area , the

fire is still tended daily.

For the panchagni sadhana itself, Sri Swamiji prepared his own bhasma

to protect the body from the great heat, according to the formula

prescribed in the Devi bhagwat Purana. This special bhasma is

mahabhasma and is made from cow dung cakes, reeds and ghee. It is

treated eleven times with many herbs, honey and other ingredients,

being reburned each time. Bhasma is smeared on the body only during the

first few days of panchagni sadhana, and is applied in the morning. Sri

Swamiji’s dog-cum-companion Bholenath, in whom he manifested the spirit

of Bhirava, also took part in the tapasya. “Alsatian dogs can’t bear

the heat ,†commented sri swamiji. “ I would put bhasma on him in the

morning and he would sit with me.†As Sai baba says “ the only partner

and security is the Sadhguru. A true channel is only a messenger of the

supreme spirit manifested through the grace of Sadhguru.

Shiddhas like Maha Yogi Shiva, Avadhoota Dattatreya , Sai Baba of

Shirdi and Swami Satyananda Sarawati are extremely rare beings, and a

gift to us beyond our understanding. They belong to a great tradition

and leave behind us and leave behind us a great spiritual legacy. The

parampara , the line of avadhootas ( those who have become immortal),

continues just as the Mahakaal Chita Dhuni continues to smoulder,

unseen beneath the symbol of there glory, their Bhasma — the sacred ash.

Om Sai Ram By – Siddhartha shankar mishra." If You Start Planning Against Others,God Starts Planning Against You."Planned - ROHIT BEHAL

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