Applying bhasma - a great purification practice

 

For every man there are four goals, purusharthas, prescribed to be achieved during lifetime, namely – dharma (understanding the importance of human birth, the roles to be played in that birth and the expectations of those roles, essentially understanding eternal code of conduct), artha (earning remuneration by offering services to the society while adhering to eternal code of conduct, using that remuneration and the gathered influence for maintaining and raising family and helping society for maintaining harmony), kama (strive to be content and help others to be content, purify one’s own desires and convert them into a desire for moksha i.e. getting rid of moha) and finally moksha (getting liberated from desire itself which causes one to be entangled in never ending cycle of birth and death). It is very important to pay attention to the order of these goals. First goal to be pursued is dharma which makes one eligible for artha, right usage of artha helps to satisfy all desires i.e. kama and hence leads one to the final goal of moksha. If the order is not followed the final goal cannot be reached.

 

Having understood about four goals, it is necessary to understand practices that act as aids in simplifying the journey of pursuing these goals. One of the important requirements in this journey is purifying self by eradicating effects of past sins. Past sins become blockage in pursuing these goals, and so, they have to be eradicated first to get speed in achieving these goals.

 

In the assembly of Lord Shiva, once the great sage Sanatkumar asked Lord Shiva the best practice that can help a man to not only get rid of past sins but also that can help in achieving all goals purusharthas.

 

Lord Shiva not only advised the best practice but he also narrated the procedure of applying. And that practice is, applying bhasma, also known as vibhuti, on the forehead. Bhasma is the remains of sacrificial fire in which a mixture of cow’s dung and urine is burnt and offerings are made to the divine fire. One should apply bhasma on forehead from left to right as three horizontal lines using three middle fingers (fingers except thumb and little finger). By following this practice one can get rid of all past sins and gain speed in achieving four goals of life.

 

There is a symbolic meaning as well to this practice. Bhasma means purity. The final goal of four goals is moksha which is nothing but achieving complete purity of soul. When all desires are burnt what remains is a pure soul. That’s why Lord Shiva, the purest soul, is known as madanari – meaning one who destroyed madana, presiding deity of kama. So, applying bhasma reminds one of this final goal of becoming one with Lord Shiva.

 

The simplest way to promote this practice and help others to achieve purification is to follow this practice.