Know here what is Bhasma Arti? Why we offer the Bhasma to lord Shiva?
Know here what is Bhasma Arti? Why we offer the Bhasma to lord Shiva?
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The Bhasma Aarti (offering of ashes) is a mandatory ritual offered to Lord Mahakaleshwar daily at 4 AM. This two hour long pooja is performed using burning cow dung cakes (upale). During Aarti, chanting of mantras, sounds and vibrations within make it a very powerful aarti once in a life time experience. Among 12 jyotirling, this jyotirling is the only place where bhasma aarti is performed. 

During the bhasma aarti no one is allowed to enter into garbhagriha. Devotees will be allowed to nandi hall and barricades behind nandi hall for participating in the bhasma aarti. Nandi hall which is situated outside the sanctum santorumm, accommodates 100 people where as 500 devotees could sit near barricades behind the nandi hall.

Why we offer the bhasma ?

Maha Yogi Shiva, father of tantra, is usually depicted naked in sadhana, his whole body covered in bhasma. The first verse of the Shiva Panchakshara Stotram gives the following description: Naagendrahaaraaya trilochanaaya, bhasmaangaraagaaya maheshwaraaya. Nityaaya shuddhaaya digambaraaya – ‘Salutations to the mighty three-eyed Shiva, eternal and pure, wearing the king of snakes as his garland, naked and besmeared with sacred ash.’ Some other names given to Lord Shiva are Bhasmashayaaya (abode of bhasma) and Bhasmabhootaaya (covered with bhasma). Covering the body with ash is considered to be an auspicious act for discovering one’s Shiva nature. Shiva is said to be responsible for mahapralaya, the dissolution of the universe at the end of each kalpa. At this time he dances his tandava nritya, the dance of destruction.

 

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