16. Rule relating to bathing in ashes (Bhasmasnāna)

Once the morning ablutions is over, then rubbing the ashes all the while uttering the Praṇava, purifying it by uttering the Praṇava seven times, and again uttering over it (the Pañcākṣara-Mantra in) the Śivāgama, one should cause the Digbandhana (enclosing within boundaries) to be performed. He should, once again, by uttering the self same (Pañcākṣara) aśtra-Mantra, sprinkle ashes over all the parts of the body, beginning with the head. This is what is known as the Malasnāna (washing away all impurities) by taking which the votary is rendered free from impurities.

With the five (pañcabrahma) Mantras beginning with the Īśāna Mantra “Īśānas sarvaVidyānām” and so on, he should sprinkle ashes over the region of the head; with the Tatpuruṣa Mantra over the face; with the Aghora Mantra, over the region of the thighs; with the Vāmadeva Mantra, over the secret parts; with the Sadyojāta Mantra, over the feet and with the Praṇava, over the other parts of the body. Then, sprinkling ashes over the entire body, from the soles to the head, and performing ācamana, he should clothe himself with clean white garments. This is what is known as the Vidhisnāna (bathing in ashes prescribed in the Vedāṅgas). Here occur the following Mantras conveying the same import: Having obtained a handful of ashes, sanctified by the uttering of the Mantras selected from the text of the Vedas, the sprinkling of it over the body, from the head down to the feet, is said to be the Malasnāna from time of yore. With the self same Mantras one should undergo the sacrament of what is known as the Vidhisnāna that has to be gone through.

One should sprinkle ashes five times, with the Īśāna-Mantra, with effort, over the head, seven times with the Mantra of (Śiva’s) fourth face (i.e., the Tatpuruṣa), over the face, eight times, with the Aghora Mantra, over the heart, nine times, with the Vāmadeva-Mantra, over the region of the navel above the secret parts, in accordance with the difference in the presiding deities and their seats.

[...] Bṛhajjābāla Upaniṣad IV.7

There are eight Aṅgās such as the chest and the like. Therein, having uttered the Mantras relating to each Aṅga, along with the syllables composing the names of the objects of one’s desire (and of the sādhaka), having sprinkled with effort ashes over the two feet, then should the sprinkling of ashes over the entire body be made in the prescribed manner by a Brāhmaṇa. In the case of a Kṣatriya, however, with the exception of the face (the seat of the Tatpuruṣa), all other parts of the body should be sprinkled over, in the order prescribed and in accordance with the rule relating to Bhasmasnāna, before the commencement of the daily austerities and other duties.^[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ibid IV. 1-7.