Bhasmajabala Upanishad
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''Bhasmajabala Upanishad'' ( sa, भस्मजाबाल उपनिषत्) is one of the minor Shaiva
Upanishad The Upanishads (; sa, उपनिषद् ) are late Vedic Sanskrit texts that supplied the basis of later Hindu philosophy.Wendy Doniger (1990), ''Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism'', 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, , ...
s of
Hinduism Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
written in
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
language. It is associated with the ''
Atharvaveda The Atharva Veda (, ' from ' and ''veda'', meaning "knowledge") is the "knowledge storehouse of ''atharvāṇas'', the procedures for everyday life".Laurie Patton (2004), Veda and Upanishad, in ''The Hindu World'' (Editors: Sushil Mittal and G ...
''. The ''Bhasmajabala Upanishad'', in a manner similar to
Brihajjabala Upanishad The ''Brihajjabala Upanishad'' ( sa, बृहज्जाबाल उपिनषद, ) is one of the minor Upanishads, written in Sanskrit language. This Hindu text is attached to the '' Atharvaveda'', and is one of 14 Shaiva Upanishads. ...
and Akshamalika Upanishad describes
Vibhuti In Hinduism, ''vibhuti'' ( sa, विभूति, vibhūti), also called ''bhasma'' or ''thiruneeru'', is sacred ash made of burnt dried wood, burnt cow dung and/or cremated bodies used in Agamic rituals. Hindu devotees apply ''vibhuti'' tradi ...
(Bhasma) or sacred ash, and Rudraksha beads as symbols and for body art. The text describes how the ash and beads are to be produced, its application on the body. The importance of holy city of
Varanasi Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. * * * * The city has a syncretic t ...
and its
Shiva temple A Hindu temple, or ''mandir'' or ''koil'' in Indian languages, is a house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together through worship, sacrifice, and devotion.; Quote: "The Hind ...
are mentioned in the text.
Klaus Klostermaier Klaus K. Klostermaier (born 1933) is a Catholic priest and scholar of Hinduism, Indian history and culture. Life and career Klostermaier obtained a PhD in philosophy from the Gregorian University in Rome in 1961, and another in "Ancient India ...
classifies the text along with the ''
Brihajjabala Upanishad The ''Brihajjabala Upanishad'' ( sa, बृहज्जाबाल उपिनषद, ) is one of the minor Upanishads, written in Sanskrit language. This Hindu text is attached to the '' Atharvaveda'', and is one of 14 Shaiva Upanishads. ...
'', the ''
Rudrakshajabala Upanishad rudrakṣajābāla upaniṣat ( sa, रुद्राक्षजाबाल उपनिषत्), also known as Rudraksha Jabala Upanishat, Rudraksha jabalopanishat, Rudraksha Upanishat () and Rudrakshopanishat, is one of 108 Upanishadic Hin ...
'', the ''
Kalagni Rudra Upanishad The ''Kalagni Rudra Upanishad'' ( sa, कालाग्निरुद्र - उपनिषत्), is one of the minor Upanishads of Hinduism, written in the Sanskrit language. It is attached to the Krishna Yajurveda. It is one of 14 Shaiva ...
'' and the '' Akshamalika Upanishad'' as Shaiva texts that explain symbolism of rites and objects of worship in
Shaivism Shaivism (; sa, शैवसम्प्रदायः, Śaivasampradāyaḥ) is one of the major Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Supreme Being. One of the largest Hindu denominations, it incorporates many sub-traditions rangi ...
.


History

The date of composition and the author of this text are unknown. Like most sectarian Upanishads, the text is likely a late medieval, post-12th century era Upanishad and it is neither part of the 17th century compilation of 50 important Hindu Upanishads published by Mughal era
Dara Shikoh Dara Shikoh ( fa, ), also known as Dara Shukoh, (20 March 1615 – 30 August 1659) was the eldest son and heir-apparent of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Dara was designated with the title ''Padshahzada-i-Buzurg Martaba'' ("Prince of High Rank" ...
, nor part of the 18th-century anthology of 52 popular Upanishads in North India published by Colebrooke, nor is it found in the ''Bibliotheca Indica'' anthology of popular Upanishads in South India by Narayana. In a
Telugu language Telugu (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken by Telugu people predominantly living in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, where it is also the official language. It is the most widely spoken member of the Dravidian language fami ...
anthology In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs or excerpts by different authors. In genre fiction, the term ''anthology'' typically categ ...
of 108 Upanishads of the Muktika in the modern era, narrated by
Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...
to
Hanuman Hanuman (; sa, हनुमान, ), also called Anjaneya (), is a Hindu god and a divine '' vanara'' companion of the god Rama. Hanuman is one of the central characters of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. He is an ardent devotee of Rama and on ...
, it is listed at serial number 87. The manuscripts of this and related Saiva Upanishads, states Friedrich Otto Schrader, exist in different versions in North India and South India, with differences in content, how the sections are arranged and length, in the Grantha and Devanagari palm leaf manuscript compilations.Friedrich Otto Schrader, , Volume 1, Adyar Library, pages 225-226


Structure

The ''Bhasmajabala Upanishad'' is presented in two parts. The first part, with 17 verses, explained by Bhusunda Jabala, prescribes the procedure for making the Bhashma and its smearing; the second part, with 52 verses, narrates the conversation between Bhusunda Jabala and Shiva giving details about the Gods to be worshipped, and procedures for worship.


Contents

In the first section, Sage Bhusunda Jabala (descendant of Sage Jabali) goes to
Mount Kailash Mount Kailash (also Kailasa; ''Kangrinboqê'' or ''Gang Rinpoche''; Standard Tibetan, Tibetan: གངས་རིན་པོ་ཆེ; ; sa, कैलास, ), is a mountain in the Ngari Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It h ...
, the abode of the god Shiva, and offers obeisance to the deity. Shiva's iconography is described as having the form of Om, three eyes, wearing a tiger skin and holding an antelope in his hand. His whole body is smeared with
Bhasma Bhasma may refer to: *Vibhuti, sacred ash made of dried wood used in Hindu, Vedic and Āgamic rituals * Bhasma, a more general term for any ash product in Ayurveda Ayurveda () is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the India ...
, sacred ash, and he wears the
Tripundra ''Tripundra'' ( sa, त्रिपुण्ड्र ''tripuṇḍra'' "three marks") is a Hindu Shaivite tilaka, and a form of body art with origins in Ancient India. It is also one of the tilakas worn by Smarta Hindus. It consists of three h ...
, three horizontal lines of Bhasma on the forehead. He is described as superior to the gods
Brahma Brahma ( sa, ब्रह्मा, Brahmā) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the trinity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu, and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 21 ...
,
Vishnu Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism. Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...
, and Rudra (Shiva as the Destroyer), and is described as Infinite and the Supreme Being. The sage worships Shiva with
bilva ''Aegle marmelos'', commonly known as bael (or ''bili'' or ''bhel''), also Bengal quince, golden apple, Japanese bitter orange, stone apple or wood apple, is a rare species of tree native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. It is pre ...
leaves and Bhasma. Then he appeals to Shiva to enlighten him on the norms of the Tripundra and thus acquire emancipation. He asks Shiva to let him understand the process of making Bhasma, what and how many hymns to be chanted while preparing it, when and how to apply it, and who are the people seeking it. At the dawn hours, states the text, cow dung should be gathered and placed on the leaves of Aswattha tree (sacred fig), dried by any process of heat by uttering the ''Triyambaka''
mantra A mantra (Pali: ''manta'') or mantram (मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit, Pali and other languages believed by practitioners to have religious, ma ...
; then lit up to produce the sacred ash. Oil seeds dipped in
ghee Ghee is a type of clarified butter, originating from India. It is commonly used in India for cooking, as a traditional medicine, and for religious rituals. Description Ghee is typically prepared by simmering butter, which is churned from c ...
to the fire with the help of a
Sami Acronyms * SAMI, ''Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange'', a closed-captioning format developed by Microsoft * Saudi Arabian Military Industries, a government-owned defence company * South African Malaria Initiative, a virtual expertise net ...
leaf shaped into a spoon, which action will rid him of all his sins. Taking a sample of the Bhasma in his palm, one should sanctify it by the Vamadeva mantra, mix it with water, and then smear the wet ashes over his body from top to toe while reciting the five mantras of the ''Pancha Brahman''. Following this, with the ashes smeared in his three middle fingers, he should perform the ritual known as "Bhasma Dharana": drawing three horizontal lines (the Tripundra) across his forehead, concurrently uttering the ''Agner Bhusmasi'' mantra and ''murdhanam'' mantras. One should also make similar ash marks on the neck, cheeks, eyes, mouth, chest, navel, arms on its middle parts, and the wrists, the back side of the palms, and the shoulder. Smearing of the body with Bhasma is to be done thrice daily (morning, midday, and evening). One should also drink some part the water sanctified with the Bhasma by uttering the ''Apahpununtu'' mantra. The sacred ash smearing rite is recommended by the text for all four stages of the life (See
Ashrama (stage) Ashrama may refer to: * Ashram (''āśrama''), a spiritual hermitage or a monastery in Indian religions *Ashrama (stage) (''āśrama''), in Hinduism is one of four age-based life stages discussed in ancient and medieval era Indian texts. *Ashrama, ...
). In the second part of the Upanishad, Bhusunda Jabala is taught by Shiva about worship. After early morning ablutions, one should recite the ''Rudrasuktas'', apply Bhasma and make the Tripundra marks on the body. and wear white
Rudraksha ''Rudraksha'' (IAST: ') refers to a stonefruit, the dried stones of which are used as prayer beads by Hindus (especially Shaivas), as well as by Buddhists and Sikhs. When they are ripe, ''rudraksha'' stones are covered by an inedible blue out ...
beads; the positions of wearing the Rudraksha on the body are described. This should be followed by offering daily sandhya prayers and by
Homa Homa may refer to: Places Ethiopia * Homa (woreda), a district in Oromia Region, Ethiopia Kenya * Homa Bay, a town and a bay on the shore of Lake Victoria in Kenya * Homa Mountain, a volcano near Homa Bay, Kenya Iran * Chal Homa, Mark ...
(fire-sacrifice). Seated on a munja grass mat, one should meditate on the form of Shiva. Shiva's icon
lingam A lingam ( sa, लिङ्ग , lit. "sign, symbol or mark"), sometimes referred to as linga or Shiva linga, is an abstract or aniconic representation of the Hindu god Shiva in Shaivism. It is typically the primary ''murti'' or devotional im ...
should be worshipped with bilva leaves and various mantras, which are listed. Goddess
Parvati Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...
, states the Upanishad, is the all-pervading One and Creator of Time, various deities, and worlds. Shiva is asserted as the Supreme, Omnipresent, and Omniscient one, who sustains everything. The text identifies Shiva as
Brahman In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' ( sa, ब्रह्मन्) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part X ...
,
Atman Atman or Ātman may refer to: Film * ''Ātman'' (1975 film), a Japanese experimental short film directed by Toshio Matsumoto * ''Atman'' (1997 film), a documentary film directed by Pirjo Honkasalo People * Pavel Atman (born 1987), Russian hand ...
(soul), the elements, and Knowledge.


Holy city of Benares

The Upanishad asserts that those who feel incapable of yogic meditation form of Shiva realization should move to Varanasi and live there. The holy city of
Varanasi Varanasi (; ; also Banaras or Benares (; ), and Kashi.) is a city on the Ganges river in northern India that has a central place in the traditions of pilgrimage, death, and mourning in the Hindu world. * * * * The city has a syncretic t ...
(Kashi) is stated by the text to be on Shiva's
trishula The ''trishula'' () is a trident, a divine symbol, commonly used as one of the principal symbols in Hinduism. In Nepal and Thailand, the term also often refers to a short-handled weapon which may be mounted on a ''daṇḍa'' " staff". Unlik ...
(trident), and one who dies there becomes part of him. Five sacred places in Varanasi are mentioned by the text, including the
jyotirlinga A Jyotirlinga () or Jyotirlingam, is a devotional representation of the Hindu god Shiva. The word is a Sanskrit compound of ('radiance') and ('sign'). The Śiva Mahāpurāṇam (also ''Shiva Purana'') mentions 64 original ''jyotirlinga'' s ...
(a sacred lingam of Shiva) enshrined in the
Kashi Vishwanath Temple The Kashi Vishwanath Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is located in Vishwanath Gali of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in India. The temple stands on the western bank of the holy river Ganges, Ganga, and is one of the twe ...
. Like the ancient
Jabala Upanishad The ''Jabala Upanishad'' ( sa, जाबाल उपनिषत्, IAST: Jābāla Upaniṣad), also called ''Jabalopanisad'', is a minor Upanishad of Hinduism. The Sanskrit text is one of the 20 Sannyasa Upanishads, and is attached to the S ...
, this late text asserts that those who die in Varanasi are imparted the Taraka mantra by Shiva moments before death and thus they attain salvation. Varanasi is described as the ultimate place to worship Shiva in the Upanishad.


Influence

The rituals of Bhasma-snana (ash-bath), and application of Tripundra instead of the ash-bath, are significant Shaiva practices. The rites described in this late text are found in Shaiva traditions. The Tripuṇḍra, three horizontal lines, on the forehead as well as other body parts are symbols of initiation and sacred rites of passages, and for some a daily practice. These lines, states Antonio Rigopoulos, represent Shiva's threefold power of will (icchāśakti), knowledge (jñānaśakti), and action (kriyāśakti). The Tripuṇḍra described in this and other Shaiva texts also symbolizes Shiva's trident (triśūla) and the divine triad of Brahmā, Vishnu, and Shiva.Antonio Rigopoulos (2013), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Volume 5, Brill Academic, , pages 182-183


References


Bibliography

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External links


Bhasmajabala Upanishad
in Sanskrit {{Mukhya Upanishads Upanishads Sanskrit texts