Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study)
by Arpita Chakraborty | 2013 | 33,902 words
This page relates ‘Bhasma Compared to Shiva and Shakti’ 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.
10. Bhasma Compared to Śiva and Śakti
[...] Bṛhajjābāla Upaniṣad II.8
That Śakti (power, strong effect, the female principle) which rises above is Śiva. That Śiva which rises above is Śakti. There is nothing in this world which is not affected by Śiva and Śakti. The world which has been burnt several times by fire, becomes pervasive with ash (Bhasma). This is the strength of the fire. In that strength, ash becomes an integral part. Thus he who understands the strength of ash and does the ash bathing ritual using Mantras, “agniriti etc”, burns all his sins and attains salvation.[1]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid II. 8-10. [...]