Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study)
by Arpita Chakraborty | 2013 | 33,902 words
This page relates ‘Yajnavalkya on the holy ash (Tripundra)’ 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.
24. Yājñavalkya on the holy ash (Tripuṇḍra)
Janaka, King of the Videhas one asked Yāgñavalkya thus:
“What is the fruit derived from the wearing of the Bhasma marks?”.
Yājñavalkya replied, Only from this Bhasmadhāraṇa[1] there is liberation (mukti) one attain identity (sāyujya) with Śiva. He does not reincarnate again, who wears the Bhasma mark. He becomes the radiance of the Bhasma. Thus Yājñavalkya replied.
Janaka, King of the Videhas, asked Yājñavalkya once again to get a confirmation of the exposition from the sage:
“Is any fruit derived from Bhasmadhāraṇa at all or not?”
Yājñavalkya replied unto him thus:
“Regarding this matter, there is the clear testimony afforded by several Paramahaṃsas as for instance, Sam.vartaka, Āruṇi, Śvetaketu, Durvāsa, Ṛbhu, Nidāgha, Jaḍa Bharata, Dattātreya, Raivataka, Bhusuṇḍa, and others who became libereated through Vibhūtidhāraṇa alone. He who adopts the same course attains the radiance of the Bhasma (by attaining Sāyujya with Śiva and becoming identical with the Paramātman, Śiva).
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Ibid VII. 3-6. [...]