Shaiva Upanishads (A Critical Study)
by Arpita Chakraborty | 2013 | 33,902 words
This page relates 鈥�8a. Five kinds of Bhasma鈥� 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 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲s are ancient philosophical and theological treatises. Out of the 108 Upanishads mentioned in the Muktikopanishad, 15 are classified as Saiva-Upanisads.
Go directly to: Footnotes.
8a. Five kinds of Bhasma
[...] B峁沨ajj膩b膩la 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 I.10
鈥�厂补诲测辞箩腻迟补鈥� the face of 莫艣惫补谤补 facing eastwards, through the Mantra, 鈥淚 surrender myself completely unto the 厂补诲测辞箩腻迟补,鈥� there came into existence the earth. Therefrom came forth the 碍补濒腻 known as 狈颈惫峁泃迟颈 (detachment). Therefrom came into being the cow known as 狈补苍诲腻[1], of a tawny colour.
From the dung of that cow, purified and prepared in the prescribed manner, was produced the ashes known as 痴颈产丑奴迟颈.
[...] B峁沨ajj膩b膩la 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 I.11
鈥�痴腻尘补诲别惫补鈥� the face of 莫艣惫补谤补 facing west, through the Mantra, 鈥淚 surrender myself completely unto the 痴腻尘补诲别惫补鈥�, there came into existence water. Therefrom issued forth the 碍补濒腻 known as Pratistha (accomplishment). Therefrom came into being the cow known as 叠丑补诲谤腻[2], of a dark colour. From the dung of that cow (purified and prepared in the prescribed manner) was produced the ashes known as Bhasita.
[...] B峁沨ajj膩b膩la 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 I.12
鈥�Aghora鈥�, the face of 莫艣惫补谤补 facing southwards through the Mantra, 鈥淚 surrender myself completely to the Aghora,鈥� there came into existence fire. Therefrom issued forth the 碍补濒腻 known as 痴颈诲测腻 (learning). Therefrom came into existence the cow known as Surabhi[3] of a red colour.
From the dung of that cow (purified and prepared in the prescribed manner) was produced the ashes known as Bhasma.
[...] B峁沨ajj膩b膩la 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 I.13
鈥�罢补迟辫耻谤耻峁鈥�, the face of 莫艣惫补谤补 facing the north through the Mantra, 鈥淚 surrender myself completely unto the 罢补迟辫耻谤耻峁,鈥� there came into existence air; therefrom issued forth the 碍补濒腻 known as 艢腻苍迟颈 (tranquillity). Therefrom came to be the cow known as 厂耻艣墨濒腻,[4] of a white colour.
From the dung of that cow (purified and prepared in the prescribed manner) was produced the ashes known as 碍峁Ｄ乺补.
[...] B峁沨ajj膩b膩la 鲍辫补苍颈峁诲 I.14
鈥�莫艣腻苍补鈥�, the face of 莫艣惫补谤补 in the middle of the aforesaid four faces, through the Mantra, 鈥淚 surrender myself completely unto 莫艣腻苍补,鈥� there came into existence ether. Therefrom issued forth the 碍补濒腻 known as 艢腻苍迟测补迟墨迟腻 (what transcends tranquillity). Therefrom came to be the cow known as 厂耻尘补苍腻, of a variegated colour.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
狈补苍诲腻 [...]
[2]:
叠丑补诲谤腻 [...]
[3]:
Surabhi [...]
[4]:
厂耻艣墨濒腻 [...]