Making of Vibuthi - The Holy Ash
Making Of Vibuthi - The Holy Ash Vibhuti (AKA Bhasma, Thiruneeru, the holy ash) is the ash from the Homa. In an age-old practice, Vibuthi is made out of dried cow dung cakes, invoking Vedic rituals, during the Maha Sivarathri festival. How to Prepare? Th e cow dung cakes are prepared and dried in days and weeks ahead of the festival. The cakes are typically circular in nature about 10-15 feet in diameter. In more traditional households, while the cow dung cakes are prepared, the Vedic chants in praise of Lord Siva - the Sri-rudhram and Chamakam are chanted. K ar ukkai - semi grown grains of Paddy, plays a key role in Vibhuti preparation. Importantly this is not to be confused with Kadukkai - a native nut used in Ayurvedic preparations. O n the morning of Sivarathiri day, the spot for Vibhuti preparation is cleaned with cow dung, Gomaya, and decorated with Kolams. The cow dung cakes are placed in layers with Karukkai and ha...