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Bhasma or vibhuti(Holy ashes) – Shiva Purana

4/6/2025

Vibhuti is a word in Sanskrit which means greatness, wealth, prosperity, super human power, splendour, holy ashes etc. Vibhuti is also called Bhasma (ash). Generally, it is used to denote the sacred ash which is made of burnt special kind of dried wood or cow dung in Agamic rituals. In yajna, the offerings like ghee, milk, curd, rice, holy twigs etc., are made to Agni who carries the offerings to the respective devata in a yajna. The residue left over which is white in colour is considered as Vibhuti and is given to the devotees as prasad for daily use to please Lord Shiva.

Vedic scriptures say as follows “Lalaata Shoonyam Smashaana Tulyam”, which means that “an empty forehead is comparable to a cemetery”. Shaivites or Shiva worshippers apply vibhuti on their forehead and other body parts. Vibhuti on forehead is worn along with red tilaka also. Vibhuti relates to Shiva and Red tilaka to Shakti. It reminds that Shiva and Shakti form the universe and everything is though the union of Shiva and Shakti.
Chapter 24, Vidhyeshwara Samhita of Shiva Purana elaborates Bhasma or Vibhuti hereunder.

Spiritual, Religious & Medicinal Significance of Vibhuti:

With the three middle fingers, take the ashes and apply the Tripuṇḍra on the forehead. It would give worldly pleasures and salvation. For each of the three lines there are nine deities.
1. The nine deities of the first line are: —The syllable “A” of pranav AUM, Garhapatya fire (sacrificial fire), Earth, Dharma, the attribute Rajas, Rigveda, Kriya Shakti (the power to action), Prataḥsavana (morning rituals) and Mahadeva.
2. The nine deities of the second line are: —The syllable “U”, Dakṣiṇa fire (sacrificial fire), the principle of Ether, Attribute Sattva, Yajurveda, Madhyandina Savana (midday rituals), Iccha Shakti (the will-power), the Antar-atman (the immanent soul) and Maheshwara.
3. The nine deities of the third line are: —The syllable “M”, Ahavaniya (sacrificial) fire, the supreme soul, the attribute Tamas, heaven, Jnana Shakti, Samaveda, the third Savana (evening rituals) and Shiva. (Shlokas 87-94)
He who wears Tripuṇḍra enjoy all worldly pleasures and live long without any disease. At the end of the span of his life he will have a peaceful death. (Shlokas 67-68)
A man who wears the Tripuṇḍra while performing Sraddha, Yajna, Japa, Homa, Vaisvadeva and the worship of the deities is a purified soul and he conquers even death. (Shlokas 75)
Applying holy ash is said to regulate all the 7 chakras in the body which is the basis for good health. Illness is said to be mainly due to the imbalance of our seven glands (chakras).

Types of Vibhuti:
The holy ashes of auspicious nature are of two types - Mahabhasma (Great ashes) and the second is known as Svalpa (the little).

The Mahabhasma is of three types - Srauta, (Vedic), Smarta (resulting from Smṛti rites) and Laukika (prepared from ordinary fire).
The Svalpa is the ordinary ash.
The Srauta and the Smarta ashes are to be used only by the trained Brahmins (Dvija). The Dvija should apply the holy ashes by repeating mantras.
The Laukika can be used by everyone. The others can simply apply without any mantra. (Shlokas 2-5)

How to apply Vibhuti:

After performing the sacred rites of Siva in the fire, the devotee who has realised the Self shall smear the forehead with the ashes repeating the prescribed mantra. He who makes Tripuṇḍra with white ashes during the three Sandhyas every day becomes free from all sins and rejoices with Shiva. One should not recite panchakshar mantra without applying holy ashes on the body. (Shlokas 19-22)
Brahmins and Kshatriyas shall apply the holy ashes over the parts of the body by reciting mantra “Ma nastoke..” etc.; Vaisya by reciting the mantra “Om Tryambaka..” and a Sudra with the five-syllabled mantra – Panchakshar”. (Shlokas 33-34)
These lines are to be made either in thirty-two places, or half of that—in sixteen places, or in eight places or in five places.
1. The thirty-two places are: —head, forehead, two ears, two eyes, two noses, mouth, neck, two arms, two elbows, two wrists, chest, two sides, navel, two testicles, two thighs, two knees, two calves, two heels and two feet.
2. The sixteen parts mentioned before are: —head, forehead, neck, two shoulders, two arms, two elbows, two wrists, chest, navel, two sides and back.
3. The private parts, forehead, the excellent pair of ears, two shoulders, chest and navel—these are the eight parts of the body.
4. Or the five parts are: —forehead, two arms, chest and navel. While applying holy ashes, the names of respective deities are uttered.
5. If incapable of applying the whole body with the holy ashes he shall have the Tripuṇḍra on the forehead alone, remembering lord Shiva, the three-eyed, the support of the three Guṇas and the progenitor of the three devas by repeating “Namaḥ Shivay” (obeisance to Shiva). He shall have Tripuṇḍra in the sides saying “Ishabhyam Namah” (obeisance to Shiva and the goddess) and in the forearms by saying “Bijabhyam Namaḥ” (obeisance to the generating seeds). He shall apply the ashes on lower part by saying “Namaḥ Pitṛbhyam” (obeisance to the manes), on upper part by saying “Namaḥ Umesabhyam (obeisance to Uma and Isha) and on the back and the back of the head by saying “Namaḥ Bhimaya (obeisance to Bhima). (Shlokas 98-116)

Reference: Vidhyeshwara Samhita chapter 24 of Shiv Purana

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Fourfold Kriya Yoga – Shiva Purana

3/21/2025

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The chapters 23, 26 & 27 of Section 5, Uma-saṃhita of Shiva Purana discuss about impure body and means purify it.

The body is considered impure because it is produced by the mingling of semen and blood and is always full of faeces and urine. After taking in sweet, fragrant and delicious foodstuffs and drinks the body becomes impure quickly. The physical body does not become clean though it is scrubbed and cleaned.

If a man has wicked feelings and emotions he can never be purified. A vicious soul is not sanctified by the waters in the pilgrim spots nor by austerities. Neither heaven nor salvation can be attained by a man of vicious emotion even if he immolates himself in the holy fire. Fishes stay in the holy Ganga and other sacred rivers. Flocks of birds stay in the temple. They do not attain any special benefit from the ceremonial ablutions and charitable gifts since they are devoid of holy feelings. It is the purity of the feelings that is the criterion for the sanctity of rites. Feelings are different in the mind even if the objects are not different. A man purified by pure emotions attains heaven and salvation.

Attainment of Perfect Knowledge –
Performing Japas, sacrifices and eulogies after purifying the soul with pure emotions a man acquires perfect knowledge and after death, he attains the worlds of persons who perform many sacrifices.
An intelligent man shall understand that the body is defective and faulty. He shall be disinterested in such emotions as revolve round the pleasures of the body. With the mind in restraint and intellect delighted he surmounts the worldly existence and becomes a living liberated soul. The misery of life is proclaimed to be grievous and painful to men due to the fault of ignorance and the influence of different activities.

The feeling of “My-ness” is the greatest affliction. The feeling of “not-my-ness” is the greatest joy.
What little recollection the child had while within the womb perishes when his misery develops further on being crushed by the muscular walls. As soon as the external air touches him or delusion overwhelms him. After being deluded he soon suffers from the loss of memory. Loss of memory leads to forgetfulness of all previous activities. The creature soon begins to love the present birth. His intellect no longer remembers the sins he committed which he remembered in the womb.

There is pain due to minor childhood ailments, different kinds of children’s diseases and adverse evil planets and other evils. Where is happiness during youth, when all the sense-organs are developed fully and begin to function, and there is an attack from the sickness of lust that remains unrealized ever? Then, he feels misery from malice and rivalry. Due to honor and disrespect, due to union with and separation from the beloved people youth is soon devoured by old age. Where is pleasure without torment? A man overwhelmed by old age is tormented by daughters, sons and other kinsmen and even by servants who cannot be kept under control because they are not attached to him. A sick and an aged man is incompetent to strive for virtue, wealth, love and salvation. Hence a young man shall strive for these virtues.

Shiva has explained the benefits of Yoga: -
1.     The physical body consists of five elements. It arises from them and merges in them. It is always endowed with their attributes. Earth has five attributes. Water has four. Fire has three. Wind has only two. Ether has only one. The five attributes are sound, touch, color, taste and smell. When it is relieved of its attributes the element perishes.

2.     The perfect knowledge shall not be imparted to anyone and everyone. It is to be imparted to the faithful, to the intelligent, to one who is endowed with devotion, to the pious who is not an atheist and to one who is always virtuous.

3.     The knower of Yoga shall practice it taking breath normally sitting on a good bed. If he practices in darkness, he shall not keep any lamp. He shall practice when people are asleep.

4.     Meditation of Shabdabrahman - When the ears are closed with the index finger for a short while a kind of sound is heard as that of a blazing fire. He becomes omniscient and omniseer. He attains all Siddhis. If the Yogin hears the sound resembling that of the rain-bearing cloud he becomes rid of worldly bondage immediately. He then becomes the subtlest of all Yogis. The Shabdabrahman cannot be uttered, cannot be struck at. It is neither Omkara nor any mantra nor any Bija nor any syllable.
a.     After knowing the great Brahman, the cause of salvation, the bestower of happiness, the non-external, the imperishable, freed from all limitations, nothing else need be aspired after.
b.     The Shabdas are ninefold. They are Ghoṣa (sound of the soft consonant), Kaṃsya (sound of bell metal), Shrnga (sound of horn), Ghaṇṭa (bell), Vina (lute), Vaṃsaja (flute), Dundubhi (drum), Shankha (conch) and Meghagarjita (the rumbling thunder).
c.     The first sound is Ghoṣa. It purifies the soul. It dispels sickness. It is excellent. It attracts and controls.
d.     The second sound is Kaṃsya. It stops the movement of living beings. There is no doubt that it stops the effect of poison, evil spirits and evil planets.
e.     The third sound is Shrnga. It is employed in black magic for exorcizing enemies and killing them.
f.       The fourth is Ghaṇṭanada. It is one that attracts the gods even. What then of human beings on this earth?
g.     Attracted by him the virgins of Yaksas and Gandharvas give him great Siddhis as desired by him or out of their own accord.
h.     Vina is the fifth sound. It is heard by Yogins always. O goddess, from it arises the power of vision from a great distance.
i.       All principles are understood by one who meditates on Vaṃsha Nada. One who meditates on Dundubhi is devoid of old age and death.
j.       Through the conch sound he assumes any form as he wishes.
k.     By means of Megha Nada the Yogin wards off all adversities.
l.       One who meditates with single-minded devotion the Tuṃkara form of Brahman? He becomes omniscient and visualiser of all. He moves about assuming any form he wishes. He is not affected by aberrations. He is Shiva himself.

5.     Another mode - Yogin engaged in the practice of Yoga, meditation and retention shall stay in the state of Dharana. The blacksmith blows air into the bellows and does his job by means of the wind. The Yogin shall also practice similarly. Holding the breath, one shall repeat the Gayatri Mantra along with Oṃ and Vyahṛtis thrice. That is called Pranayama. The person who performs a Pranayama quells his sins and goes to Brahma’s region. Free from lethargy he who is engaged in Pranayama in an isolated place, conquers old age and death, masters the vital air and can traverse the sky. He can assume the form of a Siddha. He gets luster, intelligence, exploits, valour, happiness and the speed of the wind. The Yogin who illuminates the fire existing between the eyebrows, alert fully can see in darkness without lamps to be sure. The Yogin meditates on it for a muhurta (48 minutes) or half that time with concentration. By repeated practice, the Yogin gains various powers—subduing the senses, entry into other bodies, the attainment of eight Siddhis Aṇima and others, mental vision, hearing from far, perfect knowledge, invisibility assuming multi-forms, and the ability to walk through the sky.
6.     Another mode - The devotee practicing another method, sits in a comfortable posture in a convenient spot with pure mind. He keeps his body straight. His hands are clasped together cuplike. He shapes the mouth like a beak and drinks in the wind slowly. The water-drops clinging to his palate begin to exude. They are life-givers. He inhales them through the wind. Drinking this nectarine cool water daily he will never be subservient to death. He gets a divine body and great brilliance. He becomes free from hunger and thirst.

7.     Another mode - The Yogin shall practice curving the tongue towards the palate. After sometime be can carry it to the uvula. When touched it begins to exude cool nectar. By drinking in this the Yogin attains immortality. The tip of the tongue touches the tip of the uvula. The hands are clasped in the form of a white lotus. Drawn by him the nectar falls drop by drop. When he attains the great region, he delights even the deities.

8.     The earth possessing these four types of Yogis can bestow happiness on the entire universe.
Hence the earth united with mantras, penances, Vratas, restraints, medicinal herbs and Yogic practice becomes lovable to men endowed with humility, polity and sacred virtues.

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Chanting of Vedic Mantras

9/6/2024

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In the chanting of Vedic mantras, the pitch and amplitude should be perfect. The chanting of different mantras creates vibrations and thus sound.

Breathing patterns differ based on moods and tempers. Happiness arising as a result of religious practices or Bhajans is different from that caused by the satisfaction of desires of senses. Generally, the higher type of happiness results in exhalations through the right nostril. More sensory pleasure activates breathing out through the left nostril. All sensations are synthesised when thought is centred round a noble cause.
The passage of breath through various nerves creates vibrations which are responsible for the health of beings. With every kind of emotion, a different set of vibrations are caused to the nerve centre. Emotions caused by the mind result in the change of one’s pulse beat. By controlling the pulse beats and rhythms of breathing, we can exercise control over passion or anger. Parnayama is thus chief instrument in the control of the mind.
Similarly, Mantra Yoga is another path. When we utter a word, the life breath is allowed to pass through the gaps in the throat, tongue, lips, mouth etc. Only then the sound of the word emanates and becomes audible. Vibrations are caused to the nerve centres situated in these areas through which breath passes to produce the sound of the word. Veda mantras properly recited with the proper discipline produce the necessary emotions in the mind which ensure well-being to the person reciting as well as to the world.
Learned people consider six methods of recitation, as not correct and advise to be avoided: -

Chanting in a sing-song fashion. Though Samaveda is musically recited, it can be recited only in the approved musical way.
Chanting in a quick tempo. Vedic words should be intoned by closely adhering to the time limits prescribed for uttering each word sound.
Shaking and nods of head. One should sit straight in concentration and allow the pulse vibrations to occur naturally by themselves. Nodding of the head disturbs the vibrations.
Reading from the written script. Chanting from memory in proper manner.
Chanting of mantras with knowing the meaning of the words in order to have the full beneficial effect.
Recitation in a feeble voice. Vedic mantras must be chanted with grandeur, so that the sound can be properly heard. Vedic mantras not only produce beneficial vibrations in the pulse of the one who chants them properly but also similar vibrations in those who may hear them. Since it is spread in the atmosphere, it ensures well-being here and thereafter. Chanting of Vedic mantras results in individual as well as collective well-being of the world.

Reference - The Vedas – by Pujasri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi

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Structure of Pranava OM – Shiva Purana

7/12/2024

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In the chapter 1 to 3 in Section 5 of Kailash-saṃhita of Shiva Purana, Shiva informed about Pranava to Parvati.

The Pranava is Shiva. Vedas arise from the Pranava. Pranava is the seed of all the lore. It is the imperishable Brahman, the means of attaining all objects. Shiva creates universe at the outset saying “Om”. He who aspires for salvation and is free from aberration shall understand Pranava as the cause of all and me as the Nirguṇa Parameshvara.

Structure of Pranava:
The Pranava of five syllables is explained by extricating the three Matras AUM), Bindu and Nada. It yields liberation to those who perform the Japa in this manner. Pranava is the vital breath of all living beings from Brahma to immobile beings. Being the Prana thus, it is called Pranava.

The first letter (A) is like water in the south, the second letter (U) is in the north; the letter M is like fire in the middle, before Nada and Bindu. ‘A’ is the great Bija, Rajas, the four-faced creator. ‘U’ is the Prakirti, source, Sattva, the protector Vishnu. ‘M’ is the Purusha, the Bijin, Tamas, the annihilator Shiva. Bindu is Maheshvara the lord, the disappearance. Nada is Sadashiva the bestower of blessings on all. On the top of Nada there is Shiva who is greater than the greatest. He is omniscient, the creator, the lord, free from dirt, the imperishable, the inexpressible, the great Brahman, beyond the existent and the nonexistent.

The five Brahmans beginning with Sadya and ending with Ishana are stationed in the five letters ‘A’ etc. They are my very forms in order. In the syllable ‘A’ eight Kalas of the form of Sadya exist. “In ‘U’ thirteen Kalas of the form of Vama exist. The eight Kalas of the form of Aghora are stationed in ‘M’. In Bindu four Kalas of the form of Puruṣa exist. In Nada five Kalas born of Ishana are present. Thus, their state of being the soul of the universe is due to the recognition of their sixfold identity.

The sixfold objects constitute Mantra, Yantra, deity, universe, the preceptor and the disciple. The mantra previously mentioned is a composite of five letters. The same attains the form of a Yantra. I shall mention the details of its mystic diagram. Yantra is in the form of the deity; the deity is in the form of the universe; the preceptor too is in the form of the universe and the disciple is of the body of the preceptor.
Om is everything, everything is Brahman. This Vedic Text establishes the link between the word and its meaning. The preceptor shall be one who has understood the tenets and the meanings of sacred texts; who has mastered Vedanta; who is an ascetic and the most excellent of intelligent men. After approaching him the intelligent brahmin shall prostrate before him and propitiate him by reverential deeds. That disciple is the most excellent who possesses good behavior and the qualities of peaceful calmness. The disciple shall realize that preceptor is Shiva and Shiva is the preceptor. Then he shall reveal his thought.

Holy rites by Preceptor:
After being permitted by the preceptor the brahmin devotee shall perform holy rites without taking anything except milk, for twelve days on the sea-shore, or on the banks of a river, or on a mountain or in a temple of Shiva. On the fifth or the eleventh day of the bright half he shall take his bath early in the morning. The intelligent devotee pure in mind shall perform his daily duty. He shall invite the preceptor duly and perform Nandi shraddha. He shall get himself shaved of the hair on the head and the moustache and the beards. The hair in the armpit and the private parts must not be shaved. The nails shall be cut. He shall perform his ceremonial ablution with restrained mind. He shall cat only powdered fried grain. In the evening he shall take his bath and perform Sandhya. In the presence of the preceptor, he shall perform the Aupasana rites in the evening. To Shiva in the form of the preceptor he shall give Dakṣiṇa according to the scriptures. He shall collect articles for Homa. place the holy fires, laukika and others, with the rules of his Gṛhya Sutra. A brahmin who consecrates the sacred fire shall perform this Aupasana in the sacrificial fire consecrated by the Prajapatya sacrifice, reciting mantras from the Vedas and offering due Dakṣiṇas. Then the brahmin shall superimpose the fire in the Atman and formally renounce the world. The food-offering shall be cooked with the fire-wood and cooked rice and ghee. He shall perform the sacrifice repeating the Purusha Sukta. The ghee shall be offered at the end of every stanza. The Sauvisṭakrti shall be performed in accordance with the rules of his own Sutra. After the sacrifice he shall perform Tantric activities. The learned devotee shall sit on a doth, deer-skin or Kusha grass to the north of the fire. He shall repeat the Gayatri mantra silently till the Brahma Muhurta, and stabilise his mind firmly. Then he shall take bath and cook the Caru. He shall perform the sacrifice beginning with Puruṣa and ending with the Viraja suktas. After performing the remaining rites of the sacrifice, he shall perform the Aupasana rites of the morning. Then he shall superimpose Agni in the Atman and perform the morning prayers. When the sun has arisen, he shall recite Savitri. He shall eschew the three Aṣaṇas and repeat the Presa mantras.

He shall abandon the tuft, the sacred thread and the girdle too. He shall start to the east or to the north. He shall lake with him a staff and a loin-cloth and such other things as are necessary for life. If he is totally detached, he need not take these things too. He shall approach the preceptor and prostrate before him thrice. Standing up he shall sit at the feet of the preceptor. The teacher shall take the white ashes from the Viraja fire and smear it over the body of the disciple. Repeating the mantra “Agniriti” etc. he shall make the three marks Tripuṇḍra on his forehead. He shall think of me stationed in the lotus of the heart along with you. Then the teacher shall place his hand on the head of the disciple. With a delighted mind, the preceptor shall utter the Pranavamantra thrice in the right ear of the disciple mentioning the sage etc. Then he shall tell him the sixfold meaning. The disciple shall bow prostrate before the preceptor on the ground twelve times. He shall remain subservient to him and practise the study of the Vedanta strenuously. He shall ponder and meditate in the pure Atman without aberrations, upon me the great Atman, the Saksin of Brahman, the unchanging.

Here the person authorised is the ascetic engaged in the pious activities of self-restraint, the master of Vedantic knowledge and free from rivalry. The lotus of the heart is free from dust, devoid of sorrow, clear and great. It has eight petals with filaments and it shines above the pericarp. After thinking about the region from the Adhara-Shakti to the three Tattvas the Dahara Vyoman (the ether-heart) shall be imagined and conceived in the middle. Repeating the single-syllabled Brahman Om, he shall with alert mind think of me along with you in the middle.

He who performs the rite of this type attains my world. After securing the knowledge of my principles he will attain Sayujya salvation as the fruit.

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The Pranava – Shiva Purana

7/7/2024

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In the chapters 9, 14 & 15 of Section 5 of Kailash-saṃhita of Shiva Purana, Shiva informed about the Pranava.

The Shivatva and Shaktitva is present in the great Atman. The bliss from the union of Shiva and Shakti is ever rising. Sinless ascetics attain untainted auspiciousness.

The meaning of the letter ‘Sa’ in Hamsa is Shiva. The Shakti form is expressed by the great Mantra.
Another word in Vedas, “Prajnanam” is a synonym of consciousness. Chaitanya is the freedom in respect of the knowledge and activity of everything in the universe. In another aphorism of Shiva viz; “Jnanaṃ Bandhaḥ” the lord speaks of the nature of individual souls.
Shiva Shakti & its Veils:

The five Shakti (veils) of Shiva are: activity, knowledge, completeness, eternality and pervasiveness. There are five tattvas of the individual soul, viz, Kalaa (the veil of time), Vidyaa (the veil of limited knowledge), Raga (the veil of desire), Kaala (the veil of being limited) and Niyati (the veil of causality). Kalaa is the cause of doing anything. Vidyaa is the means of certain Tattvas. Raga is the attachment to the sense-objects. Kaala is the illuminator of positive and negative appearances. Niyati means the factor that discriminates and ordains. This set of five is called “the five sheaths” in view of its nature of enveloping the form. It is the innermost and most essential means.
Knowledge & Activity:

The word Jnana refers to power of knowledge and activity. These reaching the Centre of the mind become the object of perception on the part of sense-organs the individual soul enters these, then knows and acts. It is certain that the union of Shiva and Shakti is the great Atman. From Para Shakti is born the chit Shakti. Born of it is the power of bliss. The power of will is born of that. From this is born the power of knowledge and from this is born the power of activity, the fifth one.

Pranava:
Nada and Bindu are born of chit and Ananda Shaktis (power of bliss). The letter ‘ma’ is born of Icchashakti (power of desire). The fifth vowel ‘U’ is born of Jnana Shakti (power of knowledge) and the letter ‘A’ is born of Kriyashakti (power of action). The origin of the Praṇava has been mentioned thus.
The five elements beginning with the ether are born of this set of five letters of the Praṇava which constitute pairs based on the relationship of the word and its meaning. Akasha has the only attribute of sound. The wind has the two: sound and touch. The fire has three: sound, touch and colour. The water has four: sound, touch; colour and taste. The earth has five: sound, touch, colour, taste and smell. This is the Vyapakatva (pervasiveness) of the Bhutas. The Vyapakatva is in the inverse order beginning with smell. The five Bhutas constitute the universe. Virat is the composite form of all. The universe is thus created. It begins with the element of the earth and ends with the element of Shiva. After merging with each other they merge in the individual soul ultimately. Accompanied by the energy it comes out again for the purpose of creation. It appears in the form of the gross cosmos and functions till the period of dissolution. The primeval oozing of Shiva who attempts to create the universe at his will is called Shiva tattva.
Pranava expressive of Shiva is taught through yantra. It is the composite of five letters. The four viz, Bindu etc. constitute the form of yantra in the Shaiva cult. Pranava is the highest Mantra—the very Shiva himself.

Sixfold perfect knowledge of The Pranava:
Perfect knowledge comprises the meaning of Pranava by realising the unity of six topics. The first topic is the mantra; the second Yantra; the third deity; the fourth the cosmos; the fifth the preceptor; the sixth the Atman of the disciple.

Mantra - The first and the fifth vowels, the fifth letter of the fifth class of consonants, Bindu and Nada these five letters are mentioned by the Vedas. The initial mantra of the Vedas i.e. Oṃ is of the composite form. Nada too is the composite of all. The set of four with Bindu as the fifth is established as Vyaṣṭi in the Pranava that expresses Shiva.
Yantra - Beneath all, the pedestal shall be drawn; then the first vowel—A; then the letter U, the final letter of the class of Pa i.e. Ma followed by Bindu and Nada. When the Yantra becomes perfect, all desires are achieved.
Deities - The five deities shall be known comprising the subtle form of Brahman. These are enlarged in the form of the idol of Shiva too. Shiva has five faces i.e., Sadyojata (Creation), Vamadeva (Preservation), Aghora (Dissolution), Tatpurusha (Concealment) and Ishana (Grace). The five faces of Shiva are not just representations of his divine powers but also profound symbols of deeper philosophical and spiritual truths in Hinduism. This set of five is the ‘wheel of blessing’. It is the same as Brahman. It is subtle; free from aberration and ailment.
Cosmos - This region is attainable by the pious ascetics who worship Sadashiva, with the minds fixed on the Praṇava. There is no higher region than that of Shiva. This universe is only an extension of the five Brahmans. Nivṛtti and the Kalas are the offshoots of five Brahmans. They are in the form of subtle elements well known as causes. The set of five Brahmans is the cause of gross cosmos. Puruṣa, ear, speech, sound and ether, this set of five is pervaded by the Brahman in the form of Ishana. Prakriti, skin, hand, sense of touch and wind, this set of five is pervaded by Brahman as Purusha. The ego, eye, foot, colour and fire, this set of five is pervaded by Aghora Brahman. The intellect, tongue, arms, taste and water is pervaded by the Brahman Vamadeva. The mind, nose, organ of generation, smell and earth is pervaded by the Brahman Sadya. The whole universe is identical with the five Brahmans.

Forms of Shiva:
Shiva is also called by the following eight names — Shiva, Maheshvara, Rudra, Vishnu, Pitamaha, Saṃsaravaidya, Saravajna, Paramatman. Due to the antecedent non-existence of the contact with the primordial Avidya he is naturally pure-souled and is called Shiva. Mahashvara means beyond Prakriti & Purusha; Rudra means dispeller of misery; Pitamaha means father of the Trinity which in turn is the cause of the universe. Shiva is called Vishnu because he pervades the principles of Shiva ending with the earth and the bodies, pots etc. Shiva is called Samsaravaidya (Physician) as He is the cause of dissolution, sustenance and origin of the world as well as the router of the gross. Shiva is also called Sarvajna (Omnicient) as He knows every existent object naturally, even though he has no sense-organs yielding the knowledge of all existent objects. Shiva is the Parmatman (great Atman) because he is the Atman of all, he is for ever endowed with the great qualities and there is no greater Atman than him.

Worship of Shiva by means of Pranava:
After eulogising Mahadeva, identical with Pranava, the imperishable and offering gifts on the head of Ishana, he worships the lord with the purity of mind, by means of the Pranava. He shall then take a handful of flowers, join palms in reverence, inhale through the left nostril, identifying the inhaled air with Shiva and exhale through the right nostril bidding the ritualistic adieu to the goddess. He shall realise the identity of Shiva with himself. “I am Shiva alone.” He shall make the ritualistic dismissal of the deities conceived in the heart. After worshipping the lore and the preceptor he shall fix in the heart the mantras of the conch and the vessel of Arghya.

After consigning the remnants of the floral offerings to Candesha in the north-east quarter he shall restrain the vital breath and utter the names of the sages. This Maṇḍala is technically known as Kailasaprastara. This shall be worshipped every day, or every fortnight, or every month or once in six months or once in a year or during the Chaturmasya festival. A theist shall necessarily worship my Linga every day.

On the day of initiation, he shall worship the Linga along with the preceptor and bow thrice in front of the preceptor: “Till my death I shall worship Shiva”.

He shall pour water from Argha above on the top of Linga. After worshipping it with Praṇava he shall offer incense and the lamp. After propitiating Canda in the north-east he shall offer Nirmalya. Repeating the Pranava he shall put a flower on the top of the Linga. He shall mentally conceive everythig from the Adhara Shakti to the seat of the holy lore and install the supreme god.
He shall perform the ablution of the lord with Panchagavya etc. or with holy water rendered fragrant with scented articles repeating the mantras from the Ṛg or Samaveda such as “Pavamana” “Rudra” “Nila” or “Tvarita” along with the five Brahmans. The Praṇava or the name of Shiva can be used as mantra. The ablution shall be made with the Arghya water repeating the Praṇava. After wiping the Linga with a piece of cloth he shall put a flower on the top. After installing the Linga on the pedestal, he shall perform the worship of the sun.

He shall worship the Adharashakti and Ananta beneath the pedestal. After worshipping the throne duly with the lower and upper lid he shall worship Skanda on the foot of the Piṭha. After conceiving Shiva in the Linga, he shall worship Shiva along with Parvati.
This is a great secret. It illuminates the meaning of the Pranava. Leading to the knowledge of Shiva it destroys all your miseries.

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PUJA, Kriya & Bhakti

Bhasma or vibhuti(Holy ashes) – Shiva Purana

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Structure of Pranava OM – Shiva Purana

The Pranava – Shiva Purana

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Bhasma or vibhuti(Holy ashes) – Shiva Purana

Fourfold Kriya Yoga – Shiva Purana

Chanting of Vedic Mantras

Structure of Pranava OM – Shiva Purana

The Pranava – Shiva Purana

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PUJA, Kriya & Bhakti