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The application of Holy Ash

The Holy Ash, that decorates the bodies of Lord shiva and shaivites, is very sacred and there are prescriptions on how it needs to be adored and adorned. Here are few of those. The two ways of getting adorned with holy ash are tripuNDram, uddUlanam. The first is applying the holy ash in the form of three distinct bands and the second is sprinkling it on the part of the body.

Way 1

One simple way would be to chant thirun^IRRuppadhikam (1) while taking the Holy ash and while getting adorned with that chant the aghora pa~nchAxaram (The aghora Holy Five Letters) which is shivAya namaH.

Way 2

With clean hands take the Holy Ash chanting the sadyojAdAdi mantras and the mA no mahantam mantra from shrI rudram.

Way 3

Those who perform rituals, perform shiva pUja should first take the holy ash without adding water and sprinkle on their head, forehead, chest and two shoulders. Later using the right hand index, middle and the ring finger take the holy ash, keep in the left hand, close it with right hand and chant these mantras

pa~nchakalA mantram

om nivR^iti kalAyai namaH
om pratiShTA kalAyai namaH
om vidyA kalAyai namaH
om shAnti kalAyai namaH
om shAntyatIta kalAyai namaH

pa~nchabrahma mantram

om IshAnAya namaH 
om tatpuruShAya namaH
om aghorAya namaH
om vAmadevAya namaH
om sadyojAdAya namaH

ShDha~Nga mantram

om hR^idayAya namaH
om shirashe namaH
om shikAyai namaH
om kavachAya namaH
om netrAya namaH
om astrAya namaH

Then saying hR^idayAya namaH, add water and saying kavachAya vauShaT, mix it. Chant the first four of the above said pa~nchabrahma mantram and apply (with the three fingers of the right hand mentioned above - index, middle and ring fingers) the holy ash paste on the first four places of the body. (See below for the list of places where to apply holy ash). Chant the fifth mantram when applying at the other parts of the body. While applying face up, so that the holy ash does not spill down on the ground. If by mistake the holy ash spills on the ground, clean that area with water.

The places to apply the holy ash on the body

vibhUti can be worn either in 32 places or 16 places or 8 places or five places.

32 Places 

Head
Forehead
Two ears
Two eyes
Nose
Mouth
Neck
Two shoulders
Two elbows
Two wrists
Chest
Two ribs
Navel
Two sides of groin
Buttocks
Two UrUs
Two thighs
Two knees
Two ankles
Two feet
 Total 32 Places

16 Places 

Head
Forehead
2 ears
Neck
2 Shoulders
2 Elbows
2 Wrists
Chest
Navel
2 Ribs
Back
Total 16 places

8 Places 

Head
Forehead
2 ears
2 Shoulders
Chest
Navel
Total 8 places

5 Places 

Forehead
2 Shoulders
Chest
Navel
Total 5 places

One of the ways of taking bath as prescribed by vedas is known as Agneyam. It is defined as Agneyam bhasmasnAnam. That is Agneyam bath is nothing but bathing in the holy ash.

The holy ash has very good medicinal value. This could prevent/cure 81 diseases that are out of air (vAta), and 64 of diseases caused by bile(pittam), and 215 of phlegm (kapham).

The Holy Ash is the most ancient symbol. It is hailed in the vedas along with rudrAxam(2). Even the devotees of Lord viShNu used to wear this originally (kariyamEni michai veLiya n^IRu chiRidhEyidum periya kOlath thadaN^kaNNan, n^IRu chevvE idakkANil n^edumAladiyAr enROdum - divya prabhan^dham). The following scriptures talk about the glory of the Holy Ash.

The scriptures that hail Holy Ash

upaniShad

  • rAmarahasya
  • chANdilya
  • jApAla
  • bhR^ihadjApAla
  • taitriya
  • shvedAshvatara
  • chApAli
  • vAsudeva

smR^iti

  • bharadvAja - sAtAtapa - parAchara
  • gautama
  • manu

purANa

  • li~Nga
  • shiva
  • ska.nda
  • gAruDa
  • matsya
  • Aditya
  • brahmANDa

itihAsam

  • rAmAyaNam
  • mahAbhAratam

others

  • shivarahasya parama itihAsam

See Also:
1. thirun^IRRup padhikam
2. rudrAxam
3. The respect the chera emperor gave for the Holy Ash
4. The curing of the disease of pANdiya emperor with Holy Ash

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