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BrihadJabalaUpanishad

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Introduction (http://www.youtube.com/user/hinduwebsite?
sub_confirmation=1)
BrihadJabalaUpanishadbelongstotheAtharvaVeda.ItisaSaivaUpanishad,whichdeals
with the methods of worshipping Shiva, such as wearing Vibhuthi, the holy ash, and
Rudrakshas, the holy beads. It is presented in the form of a dialogue between Shiva and FeaturedArticle
Busundi,hisdevotee.ShivaisrepresentedhereasKalagniRudra,Rudraendowedwiththe (http://www.hinduwebsite.com/featured.as
qualities of Agni, the fire god and Kala, time and death. In the Upanishad, Busundi asks
|1
RudratoexplainthesignificanceofVibhoothi,theholyashwhichsymbolicallystandsforhis
divine powers or Shakti. In the first section, Rudra tells Busundi that the question has
(http://www.hinduwebsite.com/featured.as
already been answered by sage Pippalada and there is nothing more to reveal. Then he |2
askshimtoexplainthewaytosalvation. (http://www.hinduwebsite.com/featured02.
In the subsequent conversation he |3
againapproacheswithaquestionabout (http://www.hinduwebsite.com/featured03.
bhasmam (holy ash) and this time he
|4
explains the significance of ash as the
raw material of the universe and how it (http://www.hinduwebsite.com/featured04.
should be applied on the body. |
BhasmamorVibhutiistheprimalmatter
fromwhicheverythingemerges,purified Editorial
byfire(Rudra).Itishiddeninallmaterial (http://www.hinduwebsite.com/editorial/ind
objectsasthesubstraturm.Initsfivefold
aspect the holy ash, bestows wealth,
Audio
removes all sins, imparts radiance, (http://www.hinduwebsite.com/audio/index
providesprotectionagainstdangersand
Books
shields beings from diseases and sickness. Through his dynamic power Rudra can burn
away all the sins, including the sin of killing a brahmana, and grant deathlessness to (http://www.hinduwebsite.com/books/inde
mortals. The third and fourth chapters describe how to prepare the bhasma or the ashes
Horoscope
andapplythemtothevariouspartsofthebody.Fourmethodsofpreparingtheashesare
explained.ThefifthchapterexplainstheimportanceofworshippingShivaandwhatBhasma (http://www.hinduwebsite.com/shopping/e
nishtameans.AlifewithouttheworshipofShivaisuseless.Avillagewithoutthetempleof
HinduismNews
Shivaislikeadesert.TheholyashburnsawayallsinsofevenBhasmanishtas,thosewho
wearholyashandpossesscleanhabits.Inthesixthchapterwearetoldthattheholyash (http://www.hinduwebsite.com/hinduism/h
can wash away all the sins and that wearing the marks of Shiva with the ash is very
auspicious and beneficial. The seventh chapter deals with the significance of Rudraksha.
EssaysonKarma
The following is an original translation of the Brihad Jabala Upanishad by
P.R.Ramachander. Hope readers will find it useful for their study and spiritual practice
(http://www.hinduwebsite.com/karma
JayaramV index.asp)

HinduRituals
Translation
(http://www.hinduwebsite.com/ritual
Om ! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is index.asp)

auspicious PrayersandMantras

Mayweseewithoureyeswhatisauspicious,Oyeworthyof (http://www.hinduwebsite.com/prayers/ind

worship! OnlineStore
(http://www.purelifevision.com/)
MayweenjoythetermoflifeallottedbytheDevas,
Quotations
Praisingthemwithourbodyandlimbssteady!
(http://www.hinduwebsite.com/qts/index.a
MaythegloriousIndrablessus!
MaytheallknowingSunblessus!
MayGaruda,thethunderboltforevil,blessus!
MayBrihaspatigrantuswellbeing!
Om!LettherebePeaceinme!
LettherebePeaceinmyenvironment!
LettherebePeaceintheforcesthatactonme!

FirstBrahmana
1BusundaapproachedKalagniRudra(thefireanddeathlike
Rudra) and asked him, Please tell me about the greatness
ofVibhoothi(SacredashVibhoothiisgenerallypreparedby
burning cow dung at auspicious times. The Vibhoothi of
Pazhani temple is prepared by burning cactus plants).
KalagniRudrareplied,Whatistheretotell?.ThenBusunda
asked, Please tell me the importance of wearing Vibhoothi
and Rudraksha. Kalagni Rudra replied, This has already
beenrelatedalongwithphalasruthi(resultanteffect)bysage
Paippalada.Thereisnothingmoretobetoldmorethanwhat
hehassaid.ThenBusundaasked,Tellmeabouttheroute
to salvation as told in the great Jabala (Brihat Jabala).
KalagniRudraagreedandstartedteaching.
2 From the Sadhyojatha face of Lord Shiva (he has five
faces), the earth was born. From it was born the Nivruthi.
From that was born the golden colored celestial cow called
Nanda.FromthedungofNandacameVibhoothi.
3 Water was produced from the face of Vama Deva. From
that, the power called Prathishtaa was produced. From that
the black cow called Bhadra was produced. From its dung
wasproducedBhasitha(anothernameforVibhoothi).
4FirewasproducedfromthefaceofAghora.Fromthatwas
produced the power of knowledge. From that was produced
the red cow called Surabhi. From its dung was produced
Bhasma(literallyashbutanothernameforVibhoothi).
5WindwasproducedfromthefaceofThathPurusha.From
it was produced the power of peace. From it was produced
thewhitecowcalledSusheela.Fromitsdungwasproduced
Kshara(againanothernameforash).
6Ether(sky)wasproducedfromthefaceofEeshana.From
it was produced the power of Sandhyatheetha (one who is
beyond dawn and dusk). From it was produced the multi
coloured cow called Sumana. From its dung was produced
Raksha(literallymeaningshield).
7 Vibhoothi, Bhasitham, Bhasmam, Ksharam and Raksha
arefivedifferentnamesoftheholyash.Allthesearecausal
names.Vibhoothibecauseitgivesrisetoplentyofwealth,
Bhasmambecauseiteatsawayallsins,Bhasithabecause
itmakesmaterialsglitter(thepotashisacleaningagentofall
metals), Kshara because it protects from dangers and
Raksha because it acts like a shield in case of fears of
ghosts, devils, Pisacha, Brahma Rakshas, epilepsy and
diseaseswhichareinborn.

SecondBrahmana
1 Then Busunda approached Kalagni Rudra and asked him
about the Bhasmam (ash) snana (bathing) procedure which
involves the fire and the moon. Similar to the fact that 'fire'
takes several forms depending on the form of the object,
'ash' which is like the soul for all objects, assumes the form
accordingtotheshapeofthebeingandalsobeyondit.Fire
is told as becoming the world of fire and moon. Fire is very
hot and is terrible. It is cruel. The power of moon is nectar
like.Eventhoughithasthebasisinnectar,italsoisthehot
aspectofknowledge.Amongthebigandtinythings,itisthe
onlyonewhichisnectarlikeintasteandlightandalsovery
hot,hetold.
2 The shining aspect of strength is of two types the sun
aspect and the fire aspect. Similarly the nectar like strength
alsoisfulloflightandheat,hetold.
3Lightresidesinaspectslikelightning.Sweetnesspervades
intastesofextracts.Andtheaverageworldworkswithinlight
andtaste.
4Nectarisapartoffire.Duetonectar,thefiregrows.Thatis
why, the world which is of the form of fire and moon, is like
thefiremadewiththefireoffering(havisoffering).
5Themoonpowerisabove.Thefirepowerisdownbelow.It
is because that they join together that this world is
functioningcontinuously.
[Mantras68arenotavailable.]
9 That Shakthi (power, strong effect, the female principle)
whichrisesaboveisShiva.ThatShivawhichrisesaboveis
Shakthi. There is nothing in this world which is not affected
byShivaandShakthi.
10 The world which has been burnt several times by fire,
becomes pervasive with ash (Bhasma). This is the strength
ofthefire.Inthatstrength,ashbecomesanintegralpart.
11 Thus he who understands the strength of ash and does
the ash bathing ritual using mantras, agnireethi etc, burns
allhissinsandattainssalvation.
[Mantras12&13arenotavailable.]
14 For winning over death , the bath of nectar is
recommended. Where is the question of death for one who
hasbeentouchedbynectarofShivaandShakthi?
15Theonewhoknowsthisholysecretmethod,wouldpurify
moonandfireandwillnottakebirthagain.
16 The one whose body is burnt by the fire of Shiva and
made wet by the nectar of moon and entering the path of
yogawouldbecomeeligiblefordeathlessstate.

ThirdBrahmana
NowthefourfoldmethodofpreparingBhasma(holyash)is
beingnarrated.FirstisAnukalpam,secondUpakalpam,third
upopakalpamandfourthisAkalpam.
Anukalpam is made by use of Viraja homa manthras in
Agnihothra (collecting ash from the pit of fire sacrifice).
Collectingdriedcowdunglyingintheforestandpreparingit
as per the method suggested in Kalpam is upakalpam.
Collecting the dried cow dung, powdering it, making it in to
balls after mixing it in cows urine and preparing it as per
methodsuggestedinkalpamisupopakalpam.Whatonegets
in temples of Shiva is akalpam. This is equivalent to one
hundred kalpams. All Basma prepared by any of these four
methods leads one to salvation, said Bhagawan Kalagni
Rudra.

FourthBrahmana
AfterwardsBusundaenquiredwithBhagawanKalagniRudra
aboutwearingVibhuthiinthreelines.Whathesaidwas:
On the forehead, you have to apply with the mantra,
BrahmaneNamah!(SalutationstoBrahma).
On the chest, you have to apply with the mantra,
Havyavahanaya Namah! (Salutations to he who rides the
horse).
On the stomach, you have to apply with the mantra,
SkandayaNamah!(SalutationstoSubrahmanya).
On the neck, you have to apply with the mantra, Vishnave
Namaj!(SalutationstoLordVishnu).
In the middle, you have to apply with the mantra,
Prapanchanaya Namah! (Salutations to him who pervades
intheentireworld).
Onthewrists,youhavetoapplywiththemantra,Vasubhyo
Namah!(salutationstohimwhoislikenectar).
On the back, you have to apply with the mantra, Haraye
Namah!(SalutationstoLordHari).
Onthetop,youhavetoapplywiththemantra,Shambhave
Namag!(SalutationstoLordShiva).
On the head, you have to apply with the mantra,
ParamathmaneNamah!(Salutationstothegreatsoulwhich
isinallbeings).
In each of these places, you have to apply in a set of three
lines. When we are wearing Vibhuthi on the forehead,
meditate on the great Lord who has three eyes, who is the
basis of three qualities and who makes everything visible in
sets as Namah Shivaya!. Apply Vibhuthi chanting
Pithrubhyo Namah! below the forearm. Above that apply
chanting Eeshanabhyo Namah! and on sides chanting
Eeshabhya Namah! and on the forearms chanting
Swachabhyam Namah! and on back sides chanting
BheemayaNamah!.OnbothflanksofthebellyputVibhuthi
chantingShivayaNamah!andontheheadchantingNeela
kantaya Sarvathmane Namah!. This would remove the
effectsofsinsdoneinthepreviousbirths.

FifthBrahmana
ThosewhodishonorthethreerowsofVibhuthidishonorLord
Shiva himself. Those who wear it with devotion, wear Lord
Shivahimself.SimilartoavillagewithoutLordShivastemple
is like a desert, those who do not wear Vibhuthi on their
forehead,haveadesertedforehead.Alifewithoutworshipof
LordShivaisadesertedlife.AneducationwhereLordShiva
isnotinvolvedisauselesseducation.Thegreateststrength
of the fire of Rudra is the holy ash. So anyone wearing the
holyashalwaysisforeverstrong.Theholyashwhichisborn
outoffire,burnsoffthesinsofallBhasmanishtas.Bhasma
nishta is one who wears holy ash and possesses clean
habits.

SixthBrahmana
During the marriage of Maharishi Gauthama, all devas
became passionate in their minds on seeing Ahalya.
Because of that, they lost their knowledge and approached
Sage Durvasa and asked him about it. He promised them
thathewouldhelpthemgetridofthesincommittedbythem
because of this and told them, Once upon a time by giving
the holy ash after chanting the Rudra mantra one hundred
times, even sins like Brahma hathi (sin got by killing a
brahmana) have been washed off. After this he gave them
the very blessedholyash.Healsotoldthem,because you
haveheardmywords,youwouldbecomemoresplendorous
thanbefore.
Itissaidthatthisholyashcangiverisetoallsortsofwealth.
InfrontofitareVasus,onitsrightareRudras,onitsbackare
Adhithyas (suns), on its left are Viswa Devas, in the centre
areBrahma,VishnuanidShiva,andonitssidesaretheSun
andtheMoon.TheRigVedamantratellsaboutit(holyash)
asfollows,WhatistheuseofVedastoapersonwhodoes
notunderstandthatthing,inwhoseetherlikeperennialform
lives all devas and the worlds? Any one who understands
thatgreatmatterarethepeoplewhohaveattainedthatwhich
shouldbeattained.

SeventhBrahmana
The king of Videha approached the sage Yagnavalkya and
asked,Oh,Godlikesage,pleaseexplaintomethewayof
wearing the holy ash. Yagnavalkya replied, Take Vibhuthi
using the five brahma mantras starting with sathyojatham,
chantagnirithioBasma(ashisfire)applyusingthemantra
starting with manasthoke. Mix it with water using mantra
triyayusham and then apply it on head, forehead, chest,
and shoulders chanting the mantra trayambakam. If this is
followedonebecomespureandsuitableforgettingsalvation.
He would get the same effect as chanting Rudra, one
hundredtimes.ThisiscalledBhasmaJyothi.
He continued, the great sages like Samvarthaka, Aarooni,
Swethakethu, Durvasa, Rupu, Nidhaga, Bharatha,
Dathathreya, Raivathaka, Busunda etc got freed by wearing
Vibhuthi.
Sanathkumara approached Bhagawan Kalagni Rudra and
asked him, Bhagawan, kindly explain me the method of
wearing Rudraksha. What he told him was, Rudraksha
became famous by that name because initially, it was
produced from the eyes of Rudra. During the time of
destruction and after the act of destruction, when Rudra
closedhiseyeofdestruction,Rudrakshawasproducedfrom
thateye.ThatistheRudrakshapropertyofRudraksha.Just
bytouchingandwearingthisRudraksha,onegetsthesame
effectofgivingincharityonethousandcows.

EighthBrahmana
He who reads this Brihat Jabala Upanishad daily, would
attainthepurityblessedbyAgni(fireGod),Vayu(windgod),
Surya (sun), Chandra (moon), Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra.
The ones who chant Brihat Jabala Upanishad would attain
thatworldwheretheSundoesnotdry,wherewinddoesnot
blow, where moon does not shine, where stars do not
twinkle, where fire does not burn, where Yama (God of
death)doesnotenter,wheretherearenosorrows,whichis
full of peace and pure and unalloyed happiness, which is
praised by Gods like Brahma, which is meditated upon by
great Yogis and from where great Yogis do not return after
reaching it. This Upanishad ends with the blessing Om
Sathya!(longlivethetruth).
Om ! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is
auspicious
Mayweseewithoureyeswhatisauspicious,Oyeworthyof
worship!
MayweenjoythetermoflifeallottedbytheDevas,
Praisingthemwithourbodyandlimbssteady!
MaythegloriousIndrablessus!
MaytheallknowingSunblessus!
MayGaruda,thethunderboltforevil,blessus!
MayBrihaspatigrantuswellbeing!
Om!LettherebePeaceinme!
LettherebePeaceinmyenvironment!
LettherebePeaceintheforcesthatactonme!
Here ends the BrihadJabalopanishad, as contained in the
AtharvaVeda.

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