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 “disintegration”. 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. As in the Bible it is said “ Ashes to ashes ; soul to soul” – the body will return to the dust but the soul will continue its journey, until it unites with the God. All saints and sages beseech us to remember the ephemeral nature of our earthly existence. In the Rubbayat of Ommar khyyam the poet tells us to , “ make the most of what we yet may spend, before we too into dust descend, dust into dust , and under dust to lie.” Here he calls for us to seek the eternal, not the temporal. Ash or dust, on the other hand, can be said to represent permanency, because the ash, just like imperishable truth, does not itself decay. The realized soul is said to rise from the ashes of the individual self) as the mythical phoenix. The Sufis say, “ To reach the goal we have to be burned with the fire of love, so that nothing remains but ashes, and from the ashes will resurrect the new being. Only then can there be real creation! ”
The power of Bhasma :
Bhasma or Udi is also called “vibhooti”, 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.
Topic: The Great Power of Bhasma (Read 3504 times)