Thiruneeru(திருநீறு) or vibuti - The sacred ash

Thiruneeru(திருநீறு) - The sacred ash

If u happened to see a person with Thiruneeru on his forehead, believe it, it tells not only about his adherence to religion, but his lifestyle of rich spiritual science in it.

The thiruneeru is also called as Vibuthi in Tamil. It is predominantly seen to be used by Saivaites.

It is considered to be a symbol of the supreme destroying power, Sivam.

Philosophy behind the usage of Thiruneeru:

Every single soul which is born on earth, knowingly or unknowingly commits itself in all kinds of karma, with the help of its body. Man goes behind money, fame, pride and other luxuries and commit different sins in order to attain them. But, everything finally ends up in ash, after the passage of soul from the body. Inorder to symbolize this and alert people not to indulge in any sort of sin, Thiruneeru is applied on the forehead by the Saivaites.

Also, it cools the body; absorbs the positive energy from the surroundings;helps in meditation and focussing and in knowing oneself.

Method of preparation of Thiruneeru:

The sacred ash is obtained from the cowdung. The cowdung is heated at a very high temperature until it becomes an ash.

Types of the sacred ash:

The sacred ash is classified into different types based on several factors.

Based on the type of dung:

The ash is classified into four types,namely,

1.     Kalpam(கல்பம்)

2.     Anukalpam(அணுகல்பம்)

3.     Ubakalpam(உபகல்பம்)

4.     Akalpam(அகல்பம்)

Kalpam:

This type of thiruneeru is obtained from a mother cow, by catching it with the help of lotus leaf(not letting to fall it on the ground) and burning it in fine, by reciting the mantras of Siva.

Anukalpam:

The cowdung obtained from forests are burnt and made into this type of thiruneeru.

Ubakalpam:

The cowdung obtained from cattle of different farms are burnt and properly made into thiruneeru.

Akalpam:

The cowdung collected from many people are collectively made in this kind of Thiruneeru.

Based on the cow:

There are five types of cows originated from different parts of Siva’s body, such as, Sumanai(சுமனை), Suseelai(சுசீலை), Surabi(சுரபி),Pathirai(பத்திரை) and Thandhai(தந்தை)

On the basis of these five cows, five different classes of thiruneeru are made respectively as,

1.     Ratchai(ரட்சை)

2.     Saaram(சாரம்)

3.     Pasmam(பஸ்மம்)

4.     Pasidham(பசிதம்)

5.     Vibuthi(விபூதி)

Method to apply:

One should stand facing the north of east direction, use his middle three fingers to take the thiruneeru and apply it on the forehead. While taking the thiruneeru, one should say ‘Thiruchitrambalam’ and while applying it, one should say ‘Sivasiva’ or ‘Sivayanama'.