The Great Power of Bhasma (Vibuthi)
Trivikram bowed to Sri Guru and asked. "Oh Guru, how did the Chandal get knowledge. And how did it vanish after the bath?"
Sri Guru said,” He received knowledge when I sprinkled Vibuthi, the sacred ashes on him. His knowledge disappeared when the ashes disappeared. One who applies Vibuthi will become pure and whole and get knowledge of Brahman." Then He narrated a story:
In Krithayuga there was a Mahayogi named Vamadeva. He used to apply Bhasma to His body. He was without pride and desire. Once He wandered into a forest named Krauncharanya. There a demon came to eat Him. But as He held Vamadeva, some bhasma on Vamadeva's body rubbed off onto his body. As a result, the demon's sins were washed away and he received enlightenment. "Oh, Trivikrama, one's sins are washed away on one's coming into contact with a person of good character and integrity."
The demon bowed to Vamadeva and prayed for redemption. Sri Guru asked the demon about him. The demon said,” Now I remember my 25 previous births, before which I was a king named Durjaya. I was a wicked king, harassed my citizens, including women, and drank alcohol. Due to all this I had to go to hell and become a ghost for a hundred years. Then I took birth as a dog, a jackal, and other animals. I was tired of all these births. Then I became a demon. Although I eat so many animals, I am still hungry. So I came to eat You. But the contact with Your body has washed my sins away. I have attained peace and acquired knowledge. Oh compassionate one, redeem me, and explain to me how I attained knowledge due to contact with the Bhasma on Your body."
Vamadeva said, "The power of Bhasma is great and limitless. You touched my body on which I had applied the sacred ashes." With these words he put the power of the Shiva mantra into the Bhasma and gave it to the demon to apply.
The demon said, "Oh Sri Jagatguru, I met You due to my good deeds in my previous birth. As a king I had built a water tank, and gave lands and cows to Brahmins, so now I have been rewarded. I have been purified." With these words he applied Bhasma to his body. On doing so he immediately got a heavenly body.
Vamadeva was an incarnation of Trimurthy (Dattatreya) in form of a Rishi. As Jagatguru He wandered from place to place to redeem humans. This demon bowed to Vamadeva and attained Moksha. This was the story Sri Guru told to describe the glory of Bhasma.
The power of Bhasma is great. Even a demon was saved by it. But no Mantra is successful unless it is blessed by a Guru. That is why they say no salvation is possible without the Guru. He is the liberator and the protector.
The Death of a Young Brahmin Husband
When Shri Guru lived at Ganagapur, his name and fame spread all over the country. The desires of all were fulfilled by the favor of Shri Guru.
Gopinath a rich Brahmin lived at Mahur. His issues did not survive. Both the Brahmin and his wife were devotees of Shri Datta. They had a son. When he was of 5 years, his thread ceremony was celebrated. When he became twelve years old, his marriage was celebrated. When he was of 16 years, the couple looked very charming. Both loved each other intensely.
Unfortunately the youth fell ill. Many medicines were given. His wife served him devotedly. He could not take full meals. So she also did not take meals. After 3 years he developed consumption. His body emitted foul odor. Even physicians did not like to go near him. But his wife served and nurses him with great devotion. She took only as much food as her husband took. The medicines given to him were also taken by hr. She gave up rich garments and lived a very simple life.
The parents of the couple were rich. They were pained to see the sufferings of their son and daughter-in-law. Jap, vrata, charity, sacrifices, feeding of the Brahmins and the poor had been done; but all was futile. All were passing days in grief, relying on the Almighty God.
The youth tried to console his parents and wife in various ways. The wife requested her father and mother-in-law to send then to some good holy place. She said,” My husband would recoup his health there. Shri Guru Narasimha Saraswati lives at Ganagapur. His name and fame have spread all over the country. Hence send us to him."
The parents managed for their journey to Ganagapur and bade them good-bye with heavy hearts. One the way, the youth had tridosh and when they reached Ganagapur, the youth died. The wife wept bitterly. She dashed her head on the ground. The local persons tried to console her but it was in vain. She exclaimed, 'I brought you away from your parents and have been the cause of your death. I have committed a great sin. How can I show my face to them now?" She fell on the dead body and wept. She decided to observe 'sati' and burn herself with the body of her husband.
In the mean while, there arrived a bright looking sanyasi with ash (bhasma) marks on his body, with a wreath of Rudraksha round the neck and locks of Hari on his head. Knowing the cause of her mourning, he began to advise her saying, 'everyone gets the fruit of his actions in the past. You need not mourn on the death of this youth. Every one who is born has to die one day or the other. When Ganga is flooded, logs of wood from different places come together and again part. Several birds come for shelter on a tree in the night and fly away in the morning. Similar is a family life. Due to affection, we say my father, mother, husband, son, daughter etc. but just as foam or bubbles in water do not last long, so is the life on this earth. Life is like a dream, so do not mourn.'
Code of Woman's Behavior
Hearing the advice, the young wife requested the Sanyasi to tell her how she should behave.
The Sanyasi explained to her the code of female behavior. He said, 'This code is mentioned in the Kashi Khand of the Skandha Purana. Agasti Muni lived in Kashi. His wife Lopamudra was a great devoted wife. Vindhyagiri (mountain) was a disciple of Agasti. Once Narad came to Vindhya and said, 'you are praise worthy in all respects, but there is only one thing wanting in you. You are not as high as Merugiri.'
Hearing this, Vindhya got enraged and began to grow. He grew so high that he touched the sky. Due to this, the entire country in the south of Vindhya plunged into darkness. Consequently the Brahmins could not observe their daily rites and sacrifices. The Rishis told this to Indra, who went to Brahmadev & narrated this to him. Brahmadev said, 'Agasti is the Guru of Vindhyagiri. Send him southwards. Seeing Agasti Vindhya will come down to bow to him. Agasti should then ask him to be in that very position and not grow high. In this way this calamity can be removed.'
Indra, accompanied by Brihaspati and other gods, came to Agasti at Kashi. They worshipped Agasti and Lopamudra and praised them. At that time Brihaspati (Guru of the Gods) narrated the code of behavior of a devoted wife. He said, 'Arundhati, Savitri, Anasuya, Lakshmi, Parvati, Shantarupa, Menka, Suniti, Sandhya Devi, Suryakanta, Swaha Devi have all been devoted wives. So is Lopamudra a great-devoted wife. Every devoted wife dines after her husband has dined. She respects the guests, and the elders and greets her husband, when he comes from outside. She does not disobey her husband. She worships her husband thinking him to be Shri Shankar. She serves him in the night and goes to sleep after her husband has slept. She gets up before her husband, cleans the courtyard and sprinkles it with water. After bath she worships her husband and takes his teerth (Toe dipped water). She dresses and wears ornaments when her husband is at home. When he goes out, she does not have a make up. Even if the husband speaks harshly to her, she does not retort. She does not abuse him. When he comes home she greets him and asks him what he wants. A devoted wife, when she goes out, does not look at other persons and returns home soon.
She does not observe any vrata or fast or does not give any thing in charity without the permission of her husband. If there is some function, fair or ceremony in the town, she does not go without the husband's instructions. If the husband is happy, she is not dejected and if he is in grief, she will not come joyful. If she is in monthly course, she does not come in front of her husband and does not hear the Vedas. After bath on the fourth day, she gives company to her husband and in his absence she only sees the Sun. She applies halad-kunkum-kajal and wears the mangalsutra round her neck, bangles on her wrists for the long life of her husband. She does not make friendship with the washerwomen, concubines, atheists and those who cajole their husbands.
A woman should not live deserting her mother and father-in-laws, brother-in-law, brother and sisters. She should not bother putting off all her clothes. She should not sit on grinding stone or mortar-pestle. She should not argue with her husband. She should not behave in such a way that he would he displeased. Even if the husband is money less, miserable, weak, diseased or thoughtless the wife should consider him as god and be obedient to him. She should not compare him with other rich and strong persons and censure him. Devoted service of the wife to her husband pleases Trimurti Dattatreya.
A woman retorting angrily to her husband becomes a dog, fox or dumb or pauper in seven lives. Even if the husband is weak, he should not be disregarded. She should not speak loudly or laugh in presence of the elders. She should not look towards other persons with lust. If she does so, she is degraded morally. A husband is the soul of his wife. She is regarded auspicious as long as her husband is alive. After the husband's death, she is regarded inauspicious. While going to some place, if a widow is seen, it is considered inauspicious except to her own son.
If the wife observes, 'Sati' i.e. she burns herself with the dead body of her husband, she attains all glory. She liberates the persons of 42 generations (21 of the husband and 21 paternal). If the husband is sinful, still she takes him to heaven Yama's servants also are afraid of a 'Sati'. The virtue of going 'sati' is immense. On the contrary if a woman is adulterous, she sends her 42 generations to the hell. Those who have a Sati in their homes are really fortunate. They attain four valours (Purusharthas). Their acts are virtuous. That home is like a forest, which is without a Sati.
In this way Brihaspati told Lopamudra regarding the behavior of a devoted wife. The same was narrated by the Sanyasi to the mourning woman.'
Behavior of a Widow: Dead Husband Made Alive
Brihaspati told regarding the behavior of a widow as follows: If the husband dies in the presence of the wife, then should observe `Sati'. But if she is pregnant, if she has a child, who is being fed, on her breast or if the husband dies at a far off place, then she should not observe `Sati'. She should live as a widow. She should shave off the hair on the head; else the husband goes to hell. She should bathe daily and should have only one meal every day. She should observe `Chandrayan' i.e. take one morsel of food on the first day of the bright (shuddha) fortnight, increase one morsel daily and take 15 morsels on the Poornima. In the dark fortnight (Krishna or Vad) she should go on decreasing one morsel daily and take only one morsel of food on the Amavasya (new moon day). She should not: take milk, should not sleep on the bedstead, should not take mangal bath, nor take `pan'. If she has no son, she should do `tiltarpan', worship Vishnu daily and act as per the wishes of her dead husband. She should wear white clothes.
In the Vaishakh month she should give an earthen vessel in charity. In the Kartik 'deep' should be given to a Brahmin. She should offer umbrellas and shoes to persons going on pilgrimage. She should take meal cooked out of only one corn in Kartik. Whatever vrata she observes, it udyapan (ending function) should also be duly done. If she has a son, she should act as per his wishes. Widows behaving in this way are virtuous and even if their husbands were suffering in hell, they would take them to heaven after their death.
Brihaspati had told to Lopamudra in relation with the code of female behavior and the same was narrated by the Sanyasi to the bereaved young woman. Then he said,’ You now act as you wish. If you have courage, you can observe, 'sati' and if you act as a widow, it will also be virtuous.
Bowing to the Sanyasi, the woman said, 'You are like my Parents, brother and all. I have no relatives here. You have told me the rules of behavior of a Sati and widow. I think it will be difficult for me to act as a widow, for as I am young and fair the people at large will speak ill of me. So I think it is better to observe sati. You kindly give me your blessings.'
The Sanyasi blessed her and said, `you have come from a long distance with your diseased husband to see Shri Guru. What was destined to happen has happened. Even great men as Harishchandra, Bhishma, could not avoid it. Still you better see Shri Guru who can even win `Kal' and then observe Sati.'
He applied bhasma to her forehead, gave her 4 Rudra beads and said. `Tie two in your husband's ears and two around your neck and sprinkle teerth on the body of your husband and on yourself after rudrabhishek to Shri Guru. After doing this, you may observe Sati'. The sanyasi then went away.
The young woman started preparations for observing sati. She called Brahmins, gave prayashchitta to the body of her husband. She took a bath, wore a silk sari and then ornaments, applied haladi kunkum and became ready to observe sati. The body of her husband was taken to the river and she was going in front of the corpse with fire port in her hand. The young girl of sixteen appeared as bright as goddess Lakshmi and all wondered to see her courage.
A pyre of wood and cow dung cakes was prepared. The young woman offered vayan Haldi Kunkum and mangal sutra to married women, bowed to them and said, `please inform my parents and father and mother-in-laws that we are staying at holy place and are in good health. Otherwise out of grief they will give up their lives.'
She was praying all the way in the mind. `Oh Trimurti, your fame is widespread, and you possess all Siddhis. If a complaint is made to a ruler, he gives justice. If one goes to a physician, he gives, medicine for relief. I came crossing 20 villages with the hope that my husband will recover. I am coming to ask you how my husband expired on the way.
She saw Shri Guru sitting below an Ashwattha tree and she bowed to him respectfully. Shri Guru, blessed her and said, `you shall have Sowbhagya forever. She again bowed to Shri Guru and he exclaimed `you will have 8 sons' the Brahmins accompanying her told Shri Guru, `her husband has expired and she has come here to see you before observing Sati.'
Hearing this Shri Guru smiled and said, `Her Sowbhagya is everlasting. Bring her husband's body here immediately. Let me see when he lost his life.'
Some persons soon brought the dead body before Shri Guru. The strings were cut and the cloth covering was removed. The Tirth of rudrabhishek was sprinkled on the dead body and Shri Guru looked at it with his sight full of nectar. Immediately the Brahmin youth sat up as if aroused from sleep. He was ashamed to see himself without clothes. He wore the dhoti and asked his wife why she did not awake him before, why he was brought there and who was the Sanyasi. The wife narrated to him all that had occurred. Then both of them bowed to Shri Guru with devotion and began praying to him. All The persons who had assembled there were delighted to see the miracle.
One cynic person said to Shri Guru. `This Brahmin died as per his fate. How can he be alive?'
Shri Guru smiled and said, `I requested Brahmadev to give 30 years' life from his next life to this Brahmin youth.'
All were astonished to hear this. All bowed to Shri Guru and returned. They young Brahmin couple bathed at the Sangam, worshipped Shri Guru devotedly and pleased the Brahmins and the poor by giving in charity.
A Devoted Concubine
Next day the young Brahmin couple bowed to Shree Guru and sat before him. The wife asked Shri Guru, `when I was mourning, a Sanyasi advised me, gave me 4 Rudra beads and asked me to tie 2 breads in the ears of my husband and to put 2 beads round my neck. He also told me that when I go to see Shri Guru, I should sprinkle the Teerth of rudrabhishek on my Husband's body and mine. Who was that Sanyasi?'
Shri Guru smiled and said, `seeing your devotion, I myself gave you the Rudra beads. Sins do not touch them who wear Rudraksha. The significance of Rudraksha is very great. One should wear a wreath of 1000 Rudrakshas. If this is not possible then have a wreath of 108 beads round the neck, 40 on the head, 12 in both ears. The wreath should contain silver, gold and precious stones as diamond, emerald, pearl, coral, etc. One who bathes with Rudra beads on his body gets the credit of Ganga bath. If Rudraksha is worshipped, it is like worshipping Shri Shiva Linga. The Rudrakshas have 1, 5, 11 or 14 holes. I shall now tell you a tale in this respect.
There lived a king Bhadrasen in Kashmere and his son's name was `Sudharma'. The name of his minister's son was `Tarak'. Both were fast friends. They were of the same age. Both of them had studied together. They were devotees of Shiva. They were wreaths of Rudraksha and applied Bhasma to their bodies. They did not like rich clothes and ornaments of gold and gems.
Once Parashara Rishi came there. The king greeted and worshipped him. The king said to the Rishi, `my son is fond of Rudraksha and has no liking for good clothes and ornaments befitting a Royal family. Please advise, him properly.'
Parashara said, `the account of the previous birth of your son and that of your Mantri, is wonderful. There lived a concubine in Nandigram She was very beautiful. She wore golden sandals. Her ornaments, and her bedstead was webbed with precious stone. She had constructed a high class dancing hall, where she sang, and danced daily. She had many attendants. She tied Rudraksha round their necks and taught them to dance. She was a great devotee of Shiva and gave alms to the Brahmins and others profusely.
One day a rich Vaishya, wearing a Rudraksha wreath, came to her. He had in his hand a Shiva Linga of precious stones, which was a bright as the Sun. The concubine longed to have that Shiva Linga. She asked her maidservant to ask the Vaishya if he would sell the Shiva Linga, or he would give it to her if she accepted to serve him as a devoted wife for three days.
When the maid servant told this to the Vaishya, he laughed and said, `I would gladly give this Linga to your mistress, if she agrees to serve me as a devoted wife for three days.' The Vaishya then said to the concubine, `you are a prostitute by profession and caste. How can I believe that you would be honest with me for three days? Take an oath for this.'
The concubine took the oath. `I shall serve you devotedly for three days.' He then gave the Linga to her hand said, `I love and regard this Linga even more than my life. If it is lost or destroyed, I shall give up my life. It should not be with you at sex-play. Keep it safe.'
She agreed and kept the Linga tied to a pillar in the dancing hall. Both then entered the inner apartment. While they were enjoying, the dancing hall caught fire and was burnt in no time. Efforts to extinguish the fire were made, but the Linga was burnt! Seeing that the precious Linga was burnt, the Vaishya arranged a pyre and burnt himself.
The concubine was much grieved. She decided to observe `sati' as she had agreed to be a devoted wife of the Vaishya. Her relatives tried to persuade her from giving up her life, but she was firm in her resolution. She called the Brahmins and gave money in charity. She arranged the pyre, took three rounds around it and leapt in the fire of the pyre.
Instantly Shri Shiva with five heads and locks of hair on his head, caught her in his ten hands and took her out of the fire and said, `I am pleased with your devotion. You are really a `sati. You can ask for a boon. I myself had come to you as the Vaishya to test you I myself set the dancing hall on fire and entered the pyre and got burnt.'
The concubine said, `Kindly take me with all my relatives and servants to your place.' Shri Shankar seated them all in his divine plane and took them to Kailas.
Rajkumar and Mantrikumar devotees of Shri Shiva
Parashara further said, `The monkey has taken birth as your son and the cook has become the Mantri Kumar. Due to the training of the previous birth both are `Dnyanis' and devotees of Shiva.
Hearing this the king asked, `you have narrated the account of the previous births of these Kumars, but what is their future?'
Parashara: `You ask about the future of your son, but you will be grieved to know the same.'
The King: Kindly tell me the truth. If it gives me grief, kindly suggest the means to get rid of it.'
Parashara: `Your son will live for two years. He will die on the eighth day from today. For this you worship Umakant (Shri Shiva), the Guru of the Universe, with Rudra sukta. The significance of this Rudra sukta is very great. This will save the life of your son.
`The four Vedas came out of the four mouths of Brahmadev. Yajurveda contains this Rudra sukta. Brahmadev told this Rudra to Maricha, Atri etc. These Rishis taught this to their disciples. Thus it has come on this earth from generation to generation. By reciting Rudra all the sins are wiped off. You invite a hundred learned Brahmins and have ten thousand Rudra-Abhisheks on Shri Shiva Shankar. This will enable your son to live a long life.'
The king invited Brahmins as instructed and Rudrabhishek was started ceremoniously. On the eighth day at midday the Rajkumar all of a sudden fell on the ground senseless. Abhishek teerth was sprinkled on his body and the Brahmins also threw enchanted `akshat' (rice) of Rudra on the same. Due to this, Yamadoot did not dare to come near the Rajkumar who soon awoke from the swoon. His death was thus averted.
The king and the people were very much delighted. The king spent much in charity. In the meantime, Narad Muni came there and said, `Oh king, while Yamadoots were taking away your son, Shivadoots attacked them and freed your son. The Yamadoots fled away to Yama and complained. Yama went to Shri Shankar and asked, `why did your doots attack my doots?' Shri Shankar said, `when Rajkumar was granted long life why did your doots go to snatch him without consulting Chitragupta (record-keeper of lives of all beings)? They ought not to have gone, When record of Chitragupta was checked, it was found that though the Kumar’s life was twelve years at first, he was granted ten thousand year's life later on. Seeing this Yama repented and went away. Your son got long life by virtue of Rudra-Jap. His death is averted. Such is the great power of Rudra sukta.
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