PARAKUNNATH SREE VETTAKKORUMAKAN PAYYAN KSHETHRAM (TEMPLE), AROLI, KANNUR, KERALA: Bhasma Aarti is a mandatory ritual offered to Lord Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain daily at 4 AM.

Sunday, 28 May 2017

Bhasma Aarti is a mandatory ritual offered to Lord Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain daily at 4 AM.

Bhasma Aarti is a mandatory ritual offered to Lord Mahakaleshwar, Ujjain daily at 4 AM. Among 12 jyothirlingas, this jyothirlinga is the only jyothirlinga where bhasma aarti is performed. ‘Bhasm’ and ‘Aarti’ are two words in Hindi which mean ash and offering of light in the form of wicks or camphor as part of the rituals to the God respectively. The Jyothirlinga in this temple is the only one in the entire world that faces the South. Long ago, the Bhasm was brought from the ashes of Aghoras or Yogis and were offered to the God. The hot Bhasm was smeared along the Jyothirlinga. Now, the Bhasm, usually referred to as Vibhoothi, is obtained by burning the cow dung in a sacred fire.

Conducted as the first ritual every morning Bhasm Aarti is one of its kinds in the entire nation. The Bhasm Aarti lasts for 45 minutes beginning at 4 AM. Devotees are allowed to offer special poojas (which they have to book before hand) only after the Bhasm Aarti is over. The Bhasm Aarti has to be completed before sunrise. Since Shiva is believed to reside in the cremation grounds, the deity in the Mahakaleshwar temple is offered with ash to please the god. The devotees have a staunch belief that the prayers reach the Lord during this Aarti because the Lord is very pleased with the Bhasm Aarti ritual. Women are not allowed to perform the ritual and are neither allowed to view the ritual proceedings. Only 10 Naga Sadhus are allowed to perform the ritual. Devotees who book for Bhasm Aarti are allowed to view the proceedings of the ritual. However, they can offer their prayers in the form of water.

The Bhasm Aarti is also an important ritual for removing the sins of the person performing it on the Sowmwati Amavasya which is an auspicious new moon day. The Mahakaleshwar temple is very auspicious and is a favourite temple for many devotees of Lord Shiva. The Bhasm Aarti is not performed anywhere else in the world and it is one ritual which pilgrims to Ujjain should never miss.