***हिंदी हिन्दू हिंदुस्तान***

VIBHUTI. 

An empty forehead, in Hindu thoughts, is comparable to cemetery ground – Lalaata shoonyam smahaana tulyam. The greatest example of sporting Vibhuti at all times is the Mahayogi, Lord Shiva. Indeed, the Lord is smeared with ash all over His body. The root word ‘Bhooti’ is aishwaryam, literally wealth and treasure. The preposition ‘Vi; means valuable. In the South Vibhuti is Thiruneeru. Tripundra is vibhuti smeared across the forehead to the end of both eyebrows 

In the Gita, Vibhuti Yoga presents the glories of Ishvara. In whiever object, there is some glory of Ishvara. There is nothing that is not Ishvara. He is the source of all fame and beauty. Mahabaho means the glory that one enjoys belongs to Ishvara. Truth of Ishvara is not easily understood. 

In the Shaivite tradtion, vibhuti is also a reminder of mortality; both kings and paupers get reduced to a handful of ash. It is a reminder that the Self is wrapped in maya. There is a Puranic story of how Mahadeva burned Kama, god of desire to ashes. He was trying to hinder Shiva from focusing on the Divine Truth. Hence, vibhuti is a divine reminder to pursue the purusharta goals.

Sage Thirujnana Sambanthar, in dedication to Lord Sundareshawarar of Madurai sings in Thiruneeru Pathigam: “Mantra is the ash; Higher than heavenly people is ash; Beauty is ash; in the religion is ash; The Lord of Thiruaalavaay, who share the body with the red-lipped Parvati, His Holy Ash. 

Hara Hara Mahadeva — Yogi Ananda Saraswati

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Aryavart