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Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study)

by Arpita Chakraborty | 2013 | 33,902 words

This page relates ‘Mantra and Application of Bhasmaâ€� of the study on the Shaiva Upanishads in English, comparing them with other texts dealing with the Shiva cult (besides the Agamas and Puranas). The ±«±è²¹²Ô¾±á¹£a»ås are ancient philosophical and theological treatises. Out of the 108 Upanishads mentioned in the Muktikopanishad, 15 are classified as Saiva-Upanisads.

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3. Mantra and Application of Bhasma

[...] µþ³ó²¹²õ³¾²¹ÂáÄå²úÄå±ô²¹ ±«±è²¹²Ô¾±á¹£a»å up.I.5

With regard to the application of Bhasma µþ³ó²¹²õ³¾²¹ÂáÄå²úÄå±ô²¹ ±«±è²¹²Ô¾±á¹£a»å says, 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 ±Ê²¹Ã±³¦²¹-Brahma-Mantras, â€�²ÑÄå²Ô²¹²õ³Ù´Ç°ì²¹â€�, â€�³§²¹»å²â´ÇÂáÄå³Ù²¹³¾â€�, etc., and with the idea that ‘fire is Bhasma, air is Bhasma, water is Bhasma, earth is Bhasma, ether is Bhasma, gods are Bhasma, Ṛṣ¾±²õ 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 clean palm of his left hand saying, â€�³ÕÄå³¾²¹»å±ð±¹Äå²â²¹â€� (this is to ³ÕÄå³¾²¹»å±ð±¹Äå²â²¹) sprinkling with the Mantra â€�°Õá¹›y²¹³¾²ú²¹°ì²¹³¾â€� etc., and cleaning it with the Mantra â€�Åšuddham Å›uddhenaâ€� 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 â€�O Bhasma! Thou has come from Agni!â€� and he should apply Bhasma at the top of the head with the Mantra â€�²ÑÅ«°ù»å³ó²¹²Ô²¹³¾.â€� On the forehead with â€�°Õá¹›y²¹³¾²ú²¹°ì²¹³¾ etc.â€�, on the neck with â€�±·Ä«±ô²¹²µ°ùÄ«±¹Äå²â²¹ etc., on the right side of the neck with â€�°Õá¹›yÄå²â³Üá¹£a³¾ etc. and ³ÕÄå³¾²¹ etc.â€�, on the cheeks with â€�°­Äå±ôÄå²â²¹ etc.â€�, on the ‘eyes with â€�°Õ°ù¾±±ô´Ç³¦²¹²ÔÄå²â²¹ etc.â€�, on the ears with â€�³§á¹›á¹‡²¹±¹Äå³¾²¹ etc.â€�, on the mouth with â€�±Ê°ù²¹²ú°ù²¹±¹Äå³¾²¹ etc.â€�, on the heart (chest) with â€�Ä€³Ù³¾²¹²Ô±ð etc.â€�, on the navel with â€�±·Äå²ú³ó¾±³ó etc.â€�, on the right shoulder with â€�µþ³ó²¹±¹Äå²â²¹ etc.â€�, on the right elbow with â€�¸é³Ü»å°ùÄå²â²¹ etc.â€�, on the right wrist with â€�Åš²¹°ù±¹Äå²â²¹ etc.â€�, on the back of the right palm with â€�±Ê²¹Å›³Ü±è²¹³Ù²¹²â±ð etc.â€�, on the left shoulder with â€�±«²µ°ùÄå²â²¹ etc.â€�, on the left elbow with â€�´¡²µ°ù±ð-±¹²¹»å³óÄå²â²¹ etc.â€�, on the left wrist with â€�¶ÙÅ«°ù±ð-±¹²¹»å³óÄå²â²¹ etc.â€�, on the back of the left palm with â€�Namo Hantraâ€� etc.â€�, and over the shoulder-blades with â€�Åš²¹á¹…k²¹°ùÄå²â²¹ etc.’The devotee should then prostrate to Åš¾±±¹²¹ with the Mantra â€�³§´Ç³¾Äå²â²¹â€� etc. He should wash the hands and drink that ash-water with the Mantra â€�Ä€±è²¹³ó. Punantuâ€� etc. The water should never be spilt down from any cause. Thus, this practice of µþ³ó²¹²õ³¾²¹»å³óÄå°ù²¹á¹‡a 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 µþ³ó²¹²õ³¾²¹»å³óÄå°ù²¹á¹‡a in this fashion, he should never take any food, water or anything else. Accidentally if this practice is forgotten, that day, ³ÒÄå²â²¹³Ù°ù¾± should not be repeated. No ³ÛÄåÂáñ²¹ should be done on that day; no °Õ²¹°ù±è²¹á¹‡a should be offered to gods, Ṛṣ¾±²õ or ±Ê¾±³Ùá¹›s. This is the eternal Dharma that destroys all sins and gives the final state of ²Ñ´Ç°ìá¹£a.[1]

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Ibid I. 5-8.

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