Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study)
by Arpita Chakraborty | 2013 | 33,902 words
This page relates ‘8b. Different names of Bhasma’ of the study on the Shaiva Upanishads in English, comparing them with other texts dealing with the Shiva cult (besides the Agamas and Puranas). The Upaniṣads are ancient philosophical and theological treatises. Out of the 108 Upanishads mentioned in the Muktikopanishad, 15 are classified as Saiva-Upanisads.
8b. Different names of Bhasma
[...] Bṛhajjābāla Upaniṣad I.15
Vibhūti, Bhasita [Bhasitam], Bhasma [Bhasmam], Kṣāra [Kṣāram] and Rakṣā are five different names of the holy ash. All these are causal names.
Vibhūti—because it gives rise to plenty of wealth.
Bhasma—because it eats away all sins
Basita—because it makes materials glitter (the potash is a cleaning agent of all metals)
Kṣāra—because it protects from dangers
Rakṣā—because it acts like a shield in case of fears of ghosts, devils Piśāca, Brahma Rakṣās, epilepsy and diseases which are in-born.[1]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid I. 15.