Purification—the Privilege of Śirovrata
Channel: Consciousness Research Centre
Date: 10/04/2020

This series is classified Viśiṣṭādvaita-vāda | Bhakti-yoga | Svapna | Maṇipūraka-cakra
Atharva-Veda says: “This śirovrata is like a blazing fire, wholly destroying the forest of sins. All knowledge flashes before him who performs this śirovrata.” The Atharva-śruti expounds the subtle and particularly incomprehensible things; this śruti declares the above śirovrata as to be done daily; so it is one of the daily observances. 

“Fire is ashes; water is ashes; earth is ashes; air is ashes; space, ākāśa is ashes; all this manifest universe is ashes.” 

This mantra stated in the Atharva-Veda is to be recited; after this, ashes are to be smeared all over the body. This is called śirovrata. 

The devotee is to put on these ashes named śirovrata during his sandhyopāsanā, practicing sandhyā thrice a day, so long as brahma-vidyā, realization of Brahman does not arise in him. One is to make a saṅkalpa (resolve) of twelve years before one starts with this vrata. In cases of incapability, a period of one year or six months, three months or at least twelve days is to be adopted. That guru is considered very cruel and his knowledge will come to an end who hesitates and does not impart the knowledge of the Vedas and other things to him who is purified by observing this śirovrata. Know him certainly as a very merciful guru who illumines the heart by brahma-vidyā, just as God is very merciful and compassionate to all the living beings. 

One who performs one’s own dharma for many births acquires particular faith in this śirovrata; others can have no faith in this. Rather they get animosity for this vrata because of the abundance of ignorance in them. So one ought never to advise on spiritual knowledge to an enemy who has no faith, rather who has hatred for any such thing.

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