Our contemporary norms differ from the past millennia. Have you ever wondered how our ancients carried out their daily living?
The Kamika Agama, which contains various instructions from Lord Shiva on the conduct of a Shaivite, describes a fascinating manual on ceremonial bathing.
There are 6 means by which one showers: water, fire, mantra, mind, wind and one pertaining to Lord Indra ( Maha Indra ). The pramana is as below, from Kamika Agama:
वारुणञ्च तथाग्नेयं मान्त्र मानसमेव च। वायव्यञ्च महेन्द्राख्यं स्नानं षड्विधमीरितम्॥
vāruṇañca tathāgneyaṃ māntra mānasameva ca। vāyavyañca mahendrākhyaṃ snānaṃ ṣaḍvidhamīritam॥
Water
The water bath has variations and one of them is related to the usage of earth. The spiritual aspirant collects earth and energizes it with Shaiva mantras and smears them on specific parts of the body before submerging himself into a water body.
This bath also involves rituals pertaining to pranayama, recitation and meditation. The water bath is very elaborately described in the actual scripture.
सुगन्धामलकाद्यैस्तु स्नायाद्राजोपचारतः। राजवद्धमपीठादि सुस्थितो हेमकुम्भकैः॥ स्नात्वा निमज्जनार्थन्तु कुर्याच्छब्दस्सुमङ्गलैः। तीर्थे विन्यस्तमन्त्रांस्तु संहृत्य स्वहृदिन्यसेत्॥
sugandhāmalakādyaistu snāyādrājopacārataḥ। rājavaddhamapīṭhādi susthito hemakumbhakaiḥ॥ snātvā nimajjanārthantu kuryācchabdassumaṅgalaiḥ। tīrthe vinyastamantrāṃstu saṃhṛtya svahṛdinyaset॥
The verse above describes the royal bath pertaining to water in which an aspirant baths with perfumed items and myrobalan using golden kalashas. Mantras are recited while transferring the energy in the water into one's heart, so as to say.
Fire
भुक्तिमुक्तिदं आग्नेयं कार्य शुद्धेन भस्मना॥ स्नानं चतुर्विधं भस्म भवेत्कल्पादि भेदतः। कल्पञ्चैवानुकल्पञ्च उपकल्पं अकल्पकम्॥ तेष्वाद्यं तत उत्कृष्टतममन्यदभावतः।
bhuktimuktidaṃ āgneyaṃ kārya śuddhena bhasmanā॥ snānaṃ caturvidhaṃ bhasma bhavetkalpādi bhedataḥ। kalpañcaivānukalpañca upakalpaṃ akalpakam॥ teṣvādyaṃ tata utkṛṣṭatamamanyadabhāvataḥ।
This verse describes the fiery bath, which involves the use of bhasma ( vibhUti ). The fiery bath can grant liberation and materialistic benefits as well. The quality of this bath relies on the type of bhasma used. The 'Kalpa' bhasma is considered supreme.
The Kalpa bhasma comes with a meticulous procedure. In short, cow dung is obtained from a healthy cow and must be specifically collected before it falls to the ground, with the recitation of SadyojAta mantra ( Om Ham SadyojAta mUrtaye namaHa ). It is to be kneaded with the recitation of VAmadeva mantra ( Om him vAmadeva guhyAya namaHa ) It is to be then burnt in the Shiva-agni* using Aghora mantra and the resultant ash is termed 'Kalpa bhasma'. Upakalpa bhasma is obtained through a less rigid procedure and the akalpa bhasma is the term given to the vibhUti obtained via any other prescribed means.
*Shiva Agni is the form of Agni invoked by Shaivites during a homa / Agni-karyam.
The bhasma bath is said to be more effective than the water bath. However, the bhasma shower is more specific to ascetics, while the water bath, for householders. The bhasma bath is generally done by sprinkling and smearing bhasma on the body with the recitation of adhered mantras.
Mantra
oṃ heṃ tatpuruṣavakrāya namaḥ
oṃ huṃ aghorahṛdayāya namaḥ
oṃ haṃ sadyojātamūrtaye namaḥ
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