The Greatness of Sacred Ash (Vibhuti Mahatmya)

Guru Charitra – Chapter 29: The Deliverance of a Brahma-Rakshasa through Vibhuti

In Chapter 28 of *Guru Charitra*, we learned how the simple application of sacred ash (vibhuti) transformed the mind and intellect of a Shudra. The earlier teaching under “The Law of Karma (Karma Vipak Siddhanta)” explained how seven lines drawn on the ground revealed seven different births, and how the being regained the memory of each lifetime while crossing those lines. Likewise, Dnyaneshwar Maharaj made a bull recite the Vedas, and as the bull crossed seven lines, the chanting began. These events are expressions of yogic kriyas—the spiritual sciences of earlier ages.

In Krita, Treta, and Dvapara Yuga there was no mechanical technology. Yogic power itself was the science of that era. Just as we now communicate through invisible waves, earlier sages manipulated subtler forces directly through yogic mastery.

In this chapter, Shri Guru narrates an ancient incident: Sage Vamadeva, after renouncing worldly life, wandered into *Dandakaranya*, a southern forest inhabited by various spirits including Brahma-Rakshasas—beings who arise when spiritual knowledge is misused.

The Brahma-Rakshasa asked Vamadeva about the greatness of vibhuti. Vamadeva replied: “Even the gods cannot fully describe its power. Lord Shiva Himself has claimed sacred ash as His own. Still, I shall tell you one example.”

Vamadeva narrated: In the southern region lived a Brahmin who abandoned dharma and lived with a courtesan. Excommunicated by society, he died during sinful activity when a Shudra, in anger, killed him and threw his corpse outside the village. Nearby, a dog was sitting upon a heap of vibhuti. The dog came to the corpse to eat and sat upon its chest, causing some of the sacred ash from its body and stomach to fall upon the dead man.

At that moment, Shiva-dutas arrived to take the soul to Shiva’s realm. Yama’s messengers also appeared to take him for judgment. But seeing vibhuti had touched the corpse, the Shiva-dutas drove away Yama’s servants and carried the soul to Shiva. When questioned, they replied: “We obey the Lord’s command: whoever is touched by vibhuti is purified, irrespective of their past sins. Such a one becomes eligible for Shiva’s realm. The same truth applies to those who wear Rudraksha.”

Hearing this, the Brahma-Rakshasa remembered the merit accumulated across twenty-five past births and understood that through that merit he had now received the darshan of Vamadeva. He requested: “Teach me the true glory of vibhuti and the proper method of applying it.”

Vamadeva then described a cosmic assembly convened by Lord Shiva in ancient times. All beings—gandharvas, yakshas, rakshasas, kinnaras—and Mother Parvati were present. Suddenly, the divine sage Sanatkumara arrived and said: “O Lord, there are countless paths to attain You, but each demands great effort. In Kali Yuga, humanity is exhausted by suffering. Please reveal an easy method for their upliftment.”

Moved by compassion, Shiva disclosed a simple, Vedic-approved method: The dharma of wearing sacred ash (vibhuti) in the form of Tripundra.

He explained in detail: * how to apply it * where to apply it * how many lines to draw * with what mantra to empower it

Vamadeva concluded: “This same sacred ash touched your body; therefore, your liberation has occurred.”

This chapter of *Guru Charitra* reveals the extraordinary power of vibhuti, a direct symbol of Lord Shiva, purifier of karmas, and destroyer of ignorance. Even the slightest contact with vibhuti carries divine potency, capable of uplifting beings across dimensions, as shown in the deliverance of the Brahma-Rakshasa.