028. Kalagnirudra

Om ! May He protect us both together; may He nourish us both together;

May we work conjointly with great energy,

May our study be vigorous and effective;

May we not mutually dispute (or may we not hate any).

Om ! Let there be Peace in me !

Let there be Peace in my environment !

Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !

OM! May Brahman protect us (the Guru and Sishya) both! May he give us both (enough)

to enjoy! Efficiency may we both attain! Effective may our study prove! May we not hate

(each other) at all!

Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!

Once it happened that Sanat Kumara asked the exalted Kalagnirudra: “Teach me O

exalted Sir! the truth in respect to the rule of the Tripundram (a sect mark consisting of

three streaks) and what material, which place, how much, of what extent and which

streaks, which divinity, which formula, which powers and which reward there are?”

The exalted one said to him “The material should be the ash of fires. One should grasp it

with the five Brahman-formulas (Sathyojatam, Vamadevam, Agoram, Rudram,

Eesanam). Consecrate it with the formula “Agnir iti bhasma” etc., Take out with the

formula “ma nas toke tanayae” and (after consecrating) with the formula “Trayambakam

Yajamahe” should apply it as three lines across on the head, forehead, breast and

shoulders under the tryayusa formulas, trayambaka formulas and trisakti formulas.

This is the Sambhu-vow, which is taught in all the Vedas by those versed in the Veda.

Therefore one desirous of liberation should practise it, so that he is not born again. And

this O! Sanat kumara, is its (of the mark) extent; it stretches threefold from the forehead

down to the eyes and goes from the center of one eye-brow to the other.

Its first line is the Grahapatya fire, the a-sound (of AUM), the Rajas (forceful

characteristic), the terrestrial world, the external atman, the acting power, the Rig Veda,

the morning pressing (of the Soma Juice), and Maheswara is its divinity.

Its second line is the Dakshina fire, the u-sound, the Sattvam (peaceful characteristic), the

atmosphere, the inner Atman, the willing power, the Yajur Veda, the midday pressing of

the Soma and Sadasiva is its divinity.

Its third line is the Ahavaniya fire, the m-sound, the Tamas (lazy characteristic), the

heaven, the highest Atman, the perceiving power, the SamaVeda, the evening pressing of

the Soma and Siva is its divinity.

Therefore he makes the Tripundram from the ashes. He who knows this, whether he be a

Brahman-student, a house holder, a forest-resident or an ascetic, he is thereby purified of

all the major sins and minor sins. Thereby all the gods are meditated upon by him, he is

known by all the gods, becomes one who has bathed in all the holy bathing places, one

who has all the time muttered the Rudra prayer. And after enjoying all the pleasures he

enters, giving up the body, into union with Siva and does not return – and does not return.

Thus spoke the exalted Kalagni Rudra. One who recites it here, he also attains to a similar

state. Om Satyam. – Thus reads the Upanishad.