Vibhuti

There are two types of ashes on the body:

• uddulanam - dusting the whole body with ashes;
• Tripundram - applying three horizontal stripes to strictly defined parts of the body - forehead, neck, chest, etc.

Most often, ashes are applied only to the forehead in the form of three horizontal lines ( Tripundra ) with the application in the center of the bindu , which symbolizes Shakti ^[2] . The Skanda Purana describes the following places for applying ashes to the body:

The ashes constantly worn in this way serve as a reminder to the believer himself of the need to cast aside egoism and worldly desires, recalls the Puranic legend of the burning of Shiva Kama (the deity of love) (when the latter tried to interrupt Shiva’s meditation) and indicates the finite existence in Maya . There is even a saying in Tamil Nadu : Forehead without ashes - the head is empty . The tradition of applying the triple tundra also varies in different provinces of India: this way you can see 3 even thin strips in the center of the forehead or a finger-wide strip from the temple to the temple or the triple tundra in the form of the number " 8 ".

There are two types of ash:

• Panchagawa vibhuti - ashes obtained from the Five Gifts of the Cow and
• Shava vibhuti - ashes collected at the places of cremation - Shmashanah . Representatives of Shaivite schools such as Aghora , Kapalika , Kalamukha prefer it in their ritual and everyday practice.

According to the tradition of virashivaism , there are five types of ash used in various rituals. They differ in the color of the cow from which manure is made of ashes and each one is intended for a certain group of rituals and spiritual practices. This color division dates back to the ancient Virashivaite legend, according to which five sacred cows emerged from the five faces of Shiva- Panchamukha . These five types of ash:

1. Vibhuti . A brown cow, called Nanda , came from the face of Sadyojata . Ashes prepared from brown cow manure are called “ Vibhuti ” and are used in obligatory (constantly performed) rituals. According to legend, this type of ash bestows eight “Bhuti” ( Sanskrit abilities): invisibility, omniscience, and others - therefore this ash is called Vibhuti .
2. Bhasit . The black cow, called Bhadra , appeared from the face of Vamadeva . Ashes made from black cow manure are called Bhasit and are used in episodic rituals or rituals performed for any reason. The name is derived from the verb root bhas - to sparkle, illuminate, show - and, accordingly, one who bears this ashes begins to see the radiance ( bhasan ) of the Supreme Principle, Para-Shiva ; therefore this ashes is called Bhasit .
3. Bhasma . The white cow, called Surabhi , came from the face of Aghor . Ashes made from the dung of a white cow are called “ bhasma ” and are used during actions or rituals aimed at redemption ( purashcharana ). The name comes from the Sanskrit word bhartsana (scaring) - it is believed that sins (that is, the impurities of the mind, speech and body) are afraid of this type of ash and are scattered in horror from its carrier.
4. Kshar . A smoky gray cow called Sushila came from the face of Tatpurush . Ashes made from manure of a smoky or smoky gray cow are used for any rituals aimed at achieving the desired — it is believed that thanks to this ash worn on the body, all obstacles disappear.
5. Raksha . The red-haired cow, called Sumana , appeared from the face of Ishan . Ashes made from red cow manure and used in disinterested (a-karma) actions - those that lead to moksha , Liberation. It is believed that this ashes drives away various spirits and ghosts from its carrying.

It is necessary to choose one or another type of ash according to the circumstances and apply it to the body in accordance with the instructions of the Upanishads, Puranas and Agamas, after having sanctified it with water (sprinkle with the reading of either the Panchakshara mantra or the Panchabrahma mantra or with the reading of one's own diksa - mantra ), which was previously used for washing the feet of the Guru or the holy jangama or in the ritual of the linga - abhisheka .

In the tradition of virashivaism, there are four ways to prepare ashes described in the Upanishads , Puranas and Agamas . The Kalpa method is considered the best, Akalpa is recognized the worst :

1. Kalpa . The cooking method consists of four parts:

• with the reading of the Sadyojat mantra, take manure from a domestic cow - it must be caught before it touches the ground;
• with the reading of the Vamadeva mantra, roll it into a ball;
• with the reading of the Tatpurush mantra to dry it;
• with the reading of the Aghor mantra, start a fire and burn;
• with the reading of the Ishan mantra to collect the resulting ash. The resulting ashes are used both during puja and during other rituals.

2. Anukalpa . In places of grazing cows to collect manure and burn. In the process of collecting and burning, the Aghora mantra is recited.

3. Upacalpa . Sift the purchased ash through a cloth (Sometimes lumps form - they can be kneaded or thrown away). After mixing with the urine of the cow to a jelly-like state, make balls. After they dry, re-burn. Aghora mantra is repeated throughout the process.

4. Akalpa . Any other method of making ash other than the three listed above. Ordinary wood ashes and ash from shmashans fall into this category .

However, according to the Sahasra-mantra-sara-sangrahaha, this division is important for beginners. For those who have devoted themselves to sadhana for many years, the methods of preparing ashes do not matter.

Ashes adorn the body of Shiva , and therefore for the Shaivites is sacred. There are special requirements that are mandatory for all Shaivite schools, as well as for most schools of Smartism and Shaktism , about how it should be revered and applied to the body:

• The easiest way is to read (or chant) thirun ^ IRRuppadhikam to take the ashes and clean their hands on the body with singing aghora pa ~ nchAxara (Five holy letters of the aghor - shivAya namaH ).
• With clean hands, while reading sadyojAdAdi mantram and mA no mahantam mantra from Rudra-sukta, apply ashes to the body.
• Performing the ritual before the beginning of Shiva-puja should take the ashes and, without adding water, apply it on the head, forehead, chest, shoulders. Then, ash is taken with the right hand, with the index, middle and ring fingers, transferred to the left hand, covered with the right hand from above and the following mantras are read sequentially: pa ~ nchakalA mantram , pa ~ nchabrahma mantram and ShDha ~ Nga mantram . Then, saying hR ^ idayAya namaH , add water and saying kavachAya vauShaT , mix the ashes with water. Next, the first four Panchabrahmas of the mantra are read and with three fingers of the right hand (index, middle and ring) apply the resulting paste to the first four parts of the body (see above). The fifth part of the Panchabrahma mantra - om sadyojAdAya namaH - is read when applied to the rest of the body.

When applying ash, you must be very careful that it does not fall to the ground. If this still happened, you need to clean this place with water.

In addition to applying ashes to the body, it is also used in the ritual of Homa , Yajna and Puja , offering it as a naijud .

The first mention of the use of ash in ritual is found in the Yajurveda and in the Vedic sutras: in the Shrauta-sutras and Grhya-sutras . The rules for the manufacture and use of ash are described in the following texts:

• Upanishads : Ramarahasya Upanishad ; Chandilla Upanishad ; Bhasma-jabala-upanishad ; Jabala Upanishad ; Brhad-jabala-upanishad ; Taittiriya Upanishad ; Svetasvatara Upanishad ; Jabali Upanishad ; Vasudeva Upanishad .
• Smriti : Bharadwaja-smriti ; Satatapa-smrti ; Parasara-smrti ; Gautama smrti ; Manu smrti .
• Puranas : Linga Purana ; Siva Purana ; Skanda Purana ; Garuda Purana ; Matsya Purana ; Aditya Purana ; Brahmanda Purana .
• Itihasa : Ramayana , Mahabharata and Sivarahasya-parama-itihasa .

In the 10th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita called Vibhuti Yoga (the Russian name is “Divine manifestations” ), Krishna uses the term Vibhuti to describe such divine attributes as Magnificence, Majesty, Glory and Prosperity.

Vibhuti (a variant of Vibhute) is used as a surname in the northern parts of India, mainly among members of the Agrahari merchant caste. Also used as a personal name.