Vibhuti or Holy Ash

[brag]

Vibhuti or Holy Ash is used widely in Hindu rituals for a variety of reasons. Sai Baba encourages people to eat it as prasadam. A few packets can be obtained at the Ashram if you ask for it. But it can be bought in the shops in Puttarpathi. It is used as a medecine by rubbing it all over the body or on the ailing parts of the body when faith in God is strong. It is eaten daily by many for purifying the mind. Many put it in water and drink the water. It is usually one of the many gifts brought back by devotees of Baba when they visit the Ashram in Puttaparthi.

The Significance of Vibhuti is provided in the link below.

http://www.saibabaofindia.com/significanceofvibhuti.htm

Baba has often spoken of the significance of this Vibhuti. Since it is materialized out of nothing and since the Ash is specifically associated with Siva, it is reverentially known by devotees as Kailasa Vibhuti, the sacred Ash of Siva who resides on Mount Kailasa. It is named Vibhuti since it endows one with prosperity; Bhasma - "ashes" because it burns away all sins; Bhasitam - "brightened" because it increases one's spiritual splendor; Ksharam - "destruction" since it removes danger; and Raksha - "protector" for it is an armor against the machinations of evil spirits. This is how the Vibhuti is praised in the Brihad Jabala Upanishad, one of the ancient spiritual texts. Baba says Vibhuti is also a constant reminder of the evanescence of the body which, ultimately, is reduced in cremation to a potful of ash!

Vibhuti is the most precious object in a spiritual sense. Shiva burnt the God of Desire for he agitates the mind and increases the confusion already existing there. Shiva burnt him into a heap of ashes. When the God of desire was destroyed, Prema (Love) reigned supreme. When there is no desire to control the mind, love can be true for all.

The application of this Holy Ash is a reminder for us to achieve our victory over desire. Ash is the ultimate condition of things; it cannot undergo any further change. Ash cannot fade as flowers do in a day or two, it does not dry and disappear or get soiled and unpotable as water does. It does not lose colour as leaves do in a few hours and it does not rot as fruits do in a few days.

Ash is ash forever and ever. This state of ash reminders us of our true nature, which is the atma, our soul. Our soul never undergoes any change. So burn your vices, your bad habits, and worship the Lord rendering yourself pure in thought, word and deed. Reach the state of nothingness and attain liberation by absorbing the essence of the vibhuti that we apply on our foreheads.


When we recite this vibhut mantra, we say “I take refuge in the supremely sacred vibhuti of the Lord, the wonderful vibhuti which bestows liberation, the sacred state which I desire to attain.”

Vibhuti is the most precious object in a spiritual sense. Shiva burnt the God of Desire for he agitates the mind and increases the confusion already existing there. Shiva burnt him into a heap of ashes. When the God of desire was destroyed, Prema (Love) reigned supreme. When there is no desire to control the mind, love can be true for all.

The application of this Holy Ash is a reminder for us to achieve our victory over desire. Ash is the ultimate condition of things; it cannot undergo any further change. Ash cannot fade as flowers do in a day or two, it does not dry and disappear or get soiled and unpotable as water does. It does not lose colour as leaves do in a few hours and it does not rot as fruits do in a few days.

Ash is ash forever and ever. This state of ash reminders us of our true nature, which is the atma, our soul. Our soul never undergoes any change. So burn your vices, your bad habits, and worship the Lord rendering yourself pure in thought, word and deed. Reach the state of nothingness and attain liberation by absorbing the essence of the vibhuti that we apply on our foreheads.

Since this mantra is so powerful, we should recite it with respect and with sincerity in order that we gain the full benefit from it.

In India, holy ash — a sacred symbol also found in other religions — is often called Vibhuti and is associated with Shiva. Vibhuti reminds us of the transitory nature of all earthly things and of the mortality of the body. It is also a symbol of purity and wisdom when viewed as the pure residue resulting from the burning away of ignorance through sadhana (spiritual practice), when desires and attachments have been reduced to ashes. The word Vibhuti has many meanings, including "glory," "might," and "wealth." According to the teachings of Sathya Sai Baba, we will have all these usually transitory qualities in a real and lasting sense when we finally "burn away" all of our lower impulses and attachments. Vibhuti is often materialized by Sathya Sai Baba. It has been known to have healing properties that affect both physical and spiritual maladies. The healing, however, is not automatic and is dependent upon grace and the inner receptivity of the devotee. Vibhuti is sometimes referred to as "Prasad" or "Prasadam" (grace in the form of food). It can be eaten or rubbed on the body (e.g., upon the area of the "third eye" between the eyebrows which has been called the "Eye of Shiva"). Devotees of Shiva in India often wear stripes of ash across their foreheads
Both Vibhuti and Namam are worn on the forehead by the devotees of Siva (sivaites) and Vishnu(vaishnavites) respectively.

The significance of ‘Vibhuti is stated in a verse in Agama sastra.

Brahma vishnuscha rudrascha

Pundrasyathi Devatha

Srushti sthithi samahara

Thripundrusya swarupakam.

It states that Vibhuti expresses the concept that this world we live in and the universe are driven by the functions of creation, preservation and destruction as enacted by the Triad (Thrimurthys) Brahma, Vishnu and Siva. It also signifies that the three Murthies, in the triad are equal. The significance of Vibhuthi is that the body is to be transformed in to ash one day, hence the morality of all men and women born in this world. With this realization we should overcome the ego and selfishness in us and conduct our lives in the righteous path.

Vaishnavas call their representation of Namam on their foreheads as Thirumann, which means the sacred earth (dust). Namam consists of three vertical lines joined at the base, the two outer whitelines signifying the worship of Brahama and Vishnu and the red centerline signifying the worship Mahalakshi. The Namam(thirumann) signifies the fact the men and women of this world will all be transformed.

[vaio]

It is eaten daily by many for purifying the mind.

i didn't know that it could be consumed

[brag]

Yes, it is eaten and if you watched some of the videos I shared in one of the recent threads you would hear people speaking about Baba telling them to eat the vibhuti. A devotee in Chicago had vibuthi flowing from all her pictures of Baba and she did not know what to do with the Vivbuthi. She was told to scrape it up, and take it to her terminally ill daughter in NY to intake as a medecine. I always have a supply and I give some to anyone I know to be seriously ill.

[brag]

Vibuthi Prayer or Bhajan

Paramam Pavitram Baba Vibhuti
Paramam Vichitram Lila Vibutim
Paramartha Ishtarta Moksha Pradanam
Baba Vibhutim Idamastrayami


Sacred Holy and Supreme is Baba Vibhuti
Pouring forth in brilliant stream His play of Vibhuti
So auspicious is its might it grants liberation
Baba Vibhuti its power protects me.

[brag]

Vibhuti chant or bhajan with an explanation of the significance of Vibhuti by Professor Kasturi

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/6634341/17228066

[brag]

ST0RY OF SAI BABA'S PERPETUALLY BURNING DHUNI IN SHIRDI

Even today, in every corner of Shirdi, the presence of Sai Baba's Miracles can be seen.Thats why, since the last 150 years Baba's Dhuni (Sacred Fire) is kept perpetually burning everyday in Dwarkamai.

Fire is a manifestation of energy of which the whole universe is made and Fire Sacrifice stands for the cosmic consciousness in which the manifold creation is projected, maintained and constantly transformed. Hence, ‘Dhuni’ is symbolic for burning down the sins to ashes, for those who seek complete refuge in this peerless Master.

Sai Baba used to sit by the side of his "Dhuni" and look at it while being deeply absorbed in thoughts. He used to distribute the 'Udi' the sacred ash of his Dhuni, to all who came to Him, as a token of His grace. This Sacred Ash had lots of miraculous curative powers too.

THE STORY OF BABA'S PERPETUALLY BURNING DHUNI IN DWARKAMAI

Shirdi Sai Baba's Gurusthan was below a huge Neem Tree. When Baba came to Shirdi, he got the ground beneath this Neem Tree dug up and found 4 miraculously burning earthen lamps buried underneath, along-with a Rudraksha Mala.Baba regarded these 4 burning earthen lamps each symbolic for Satya, Dharm, Peace & Love respectively.

In his previous lifetime, Baba had done his Tapasya / Guru Sadhana here at this very point where the 4 burning lamps were found. Hence, the name "GURUSTHAN" Baba then said that the time for the 4 lamps to continue burning in Gurusthan was now over, and that they should be shifted from the Gurusthan to "Dwarkamai" his Karmsthan, where they would continue to burn as his "DHUNI" till the time this World exists.

Thus, Baba's Dhuni was placed in a 7’ by 5’ 2” place in Dwarkamai, having wooden pillar on both the sides. The Padukas near the Dhuni is the spot where Baba used to spend time in solitude everyday at 05:00 A.M. There is an iron door that is opened to offer fuel. Surprisingly the Wooden Pillars are not charred, or ever burnt and no body is ever burnt while cleaning it from inside.

In an incident related by Pujya Sivanesan Swamiji, looking at the bellowing smoke, in 1974, a group of Russian scientists performed a test for pollution. They were surprised to find only minimal count for carbon monoxide and Sulphur Dioxide.

WHAT THE UDI OF BABA'S DHUNI SYMBOLIZES -
Through Udi, Baba conveyed that all the visible phenomena in the universe are as transient as the Dhuni's Ash. Our bodies composed of the five elements will eventually be reduced to Ashes. The "Brahman" is the only Reality and the universe is ephemeral and that no one in this world is really ours. We come in this world alone and we have to go out alone.

The Udi also cured many physical & mental maladies, but Baba wanted to din into the devotee's the principles of discrimination between the Unreal and the Real, non-attachment for the Unreal, by asking for Dakshina and giving Udi.

The Udi taught "Discrimination" and the Dakshina taught "Non-attachment" and without these two it is not possible to cross over the sea of the mundane existence. So Baba asked for and took Dakshina, and while the devotees took leave, He gave Udi as Prasad, besmeared some of it on the Bhaktas' foreheads and placed His boon-conferring hand on their heads.

And when Baba was in a cheerful mood he used to sing,"Oh, playful Rama, come, come, and bring with you sacks of Udi."

~~ CATCH THE VIDEO/PHOTOS AT ~~
http://www.sai-ka-aangan.org/sai-bab...ni-shirdi.html
or
http://forum.spiritualindia.org/vide...-t36619.0.html
or
http://saibabadwarkamai.com/forum/in...p?topic=4357.0

[brag]

AUM SRI SAI RAM

‘Do not be attached to My Physical Body!’ – Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

This is repeatedly being told by speakers at colloquiums all around the world; so much so that we start to wonder whether we should stop going to Prasanti for Swami’s darshan. Some ‘advanced’ devotees, I believe, receive Swami in dreams and visions regularly; hence, they do not have to make a physical move to Prasanti to recharge their batteries with Cosmic Energy for the onward journey.

They see Swami, they touch Him and they talk to Him in an ongoing process, like in real life. In August last, at the Pre World Conference in Durban, South Africa, Dr. Michael Goldstein, the International Guest Speaker related a dream where Swami gave him instructions to proceed to Ooty. Eventually, Swami was there, waiting for him. A texto sent on a mobile phone could not be more accurate. Further, the ‘polished’ mind is also meant to move faster than a flash of lightening.

‘How to detach from the One I love?’ – I ask myself whilst planning to go back to Prasanti as a delegate at the World Conference 2010. Other delegates are going for two whole weeks; should I do the same?

Hence, this revealing dream of Swami –

Swami says- ‘Anita, tell me, how many pounds of ‘vibhutti’ did you take home to Mauritius? One or two?’

‘Uh Oh! Swami, I really don’t know… somebody else (at this point in time, I visualize a devotee friend) brought home the vibhutti; I did not!’

The dream ended there.

A few days later, this message of Swami fell on my lap. It was felicitously posted in the internet by the well known Kumar Mahadevan.

‘Flowers, leaves, fruit and other edibles have a temporary life. Even water breeds germs if kept in a vessel for days. Only vibhutti remains unchanged, as it is the final result of the five elements of creation. Our desires have to be reduced to ashes and vibhutti is symbolic of this detachment and renunciation. Our mind has to become desire less and detached. It is this kind of pure mind that has to be offered to God.’ – Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.

‘When I appear in a dream, it is to communicate something to the individual. It is not a mere dream as is generally known. Do not think that these incidents you experience in your dream as stretches of your imagination. I give answers thereby to all your doubts.’ –Sri Sathya Sai Baba-(Quote- Sathya Sivam Sundaram- Part iv-page 100).

The above quoted words were told to Dr. Ramakrishna Rao of Vishakhapatnam by Swami, when he enquired about a dream experience. In the dream, Swami gave him a clarification about a spiritual problem.

I am sure that Swami’s message is meant for all the delegates at the World Conference 2010- GOD IS- I AM I- LOVE ALL SERVE ALL. It is crystal clear-‘Come with a pure mind! Come and merge in My Eternal Spirit! Do not be attached to My Physical Body!’


At the Lotus Feet of SAI

Anita Bacha

[brag]

The glory of holy ash.
April 12th, 2010

By V. Balakrishnan: Mystic mantra There was a time when every Hindu used to wear a vibhooti (holy ash) mark on his forehead before prayers.

As per our texts, to obtain quality vibhooti, you must first collect dung of a cow that eats only grass. Burn it in husk on the Shivaratri day and take the ash. Wash it in water, dry it again and offer it to Lord Shiva. This vibhooti should then be kept in a clean and holy place.

According to Hindu beliefs, wearing holy ash pleases Lord Shiva. One is supposed to apply marks of vibhooti on the forehead, on the neck, on the shoulders and on the elbows.

Apart from theological reasons, wearing vibhooti all over the body has practical health benefits too. If vibhooti is applied on the forehead, it absorbs the moisture there. It gives relief to a person suffering from fever as the temperature gets reduced.

If it is put on the hind neck, again it absorbs the moisture and prevents aches. Ears are also important. Around 72,000 nerves join together there. Accretion of fat or swelling is possible to occur in each nerve. This in turn, leads to arthritis. But traditional practitioners believe that the presence of holy ash reduces this possibility.

There is another kind of holy ash that is left behind after medicinal plants along with cow’s ghee are put in the homa fire. This is also of great medicinal value.

Vibhooti is termed “Bhasmam” in Sanskrit. “Bhasati yat tat Bhasma” (that which shines in glory is Bhasmam) is the definition given to it in Brahma Purna. Saiva Purana hails it as “Bhasma Kalmasha Bhakshanat” (Bhasmam is called so because it eats up sins). “Bhakshanat Sarvapaapaanaam Bhasmeti Purikeerthitham” (Since it eats up all sins, it is praised as Bhasmam).

Another tradition relates to Lord Shiva’s association with the leaf of the crataeva tree. The leaf is considered one of the favourites of the Lord. Hence it is given prominent place in Shiva temples.

The prickles of this tree represent Shakti, the Mother Goddess, the branches represent the Vedas and the roots symbolise Rudra, the Lord Himself. Each petal of crataeva is turned to three. They represent the three gunaas. The devotees of Lord Shiva take them to be the three eyes of their deity. Most devotees consider crataeva as a holy tree that can cure all sins of a lifetime.

As per the belief, one should not pluck the crataeva leaf on new moon and full moon days. All parts of the tree have medicinal value. Agricultural universities in the West are now nurturing crataeva because of its medicinal value, as per a report that appeared in a science magazine recently.

Rheumatism, phlegm, vomiting, tuberculosis, diarrhoea and such ailments can be cured using crataeva. In the treatment of diabetes also crataeva has a unique role.

Ayurveda doctors point out that the oil boiled in the juice of the leaf can cure ear pain, and remove pus which forms in an infected ear.

The changes in the nature on the full moon and new moon days can affect the tree also. That is why there is restriction in plucking its leaves on these days.

The importance given to holy ash and crataeva make it evident that the religious practices prescribed by our great tradition focuses on maintaining a system that safeguards both physical and spiritual wellness.

— Dr Venganoor Balakrishnan is the author of Thaliyola, a book on Hindu beliefs and rituals. He has also written books on the Vedas and Upanishads.

[birdie67]

Hi SaiRam- Thanks for this post. I am new member here, however I read few of your postings in the past. Where do you live
and how do I contact you? I am in Singapore. I would like to stay in touch with you. Let me know. Thanks.

[Sly1]

Birdie67: Hello there new person.
Brag is no longer on this chat group or I do not think he come here often any more.
Why would you wish to contact Brag?
I have contact with him. If you wish to send me a private message I would be glad to pass it on to Brag.
I hope you will come often and chat with us. Are you from Trinidad?