Why is the ashes of the funeral pyre dear to Shiva?

We have all seen that Bholenath loves things that no other deity likes. It could also be said that Mahadev gives refuge to those who are shunned by the entire universe. Be it the moon, Vasuki, Halahal, ghosts, demons, devils, vampires, cremation grounds, or ashes. Among the gods, Mahadev is the only one who is revered by both gods and demons.

Everyone knows that Lord Shiva is very fond of the ashes of the funeral pyre. He is also adorned with ashes. Shaiva practitioners use cremation and funeral pyre ashes for their spiritual practices. So, one wonders why Mahadev loves the ashes of the funeral pyre, which no other deity wants to see. To find out, we need to go back a little.

When Brahmaputra Prajapati Daksha, the father of Mahadev’s first wife, Goddess Sati, out of spite, refused to invite Mahadev to his yajna, Sati, despite Mahadev’s attempts to dissuade her, went to her father’s yajna to learn the reason for his insult. There, Daksha insulted Mahadev in various ways, which Goddess Sati could not tolerate, and she sacrificed her life in the same yajna. When Mahadev learned of this, he was enraged and created the Rudra avatar Veerabhadra from his matted hair and commanded him to destroy Daksha and the yagna. Veerabhadra arrived at the sacrificial hall and, despite the presence of Lord Vishnu, beheaded Daksha and destroyed the yagna.

Lord Shiva then arrived at the sacrificial altar, smeared the ashes there all over his body, and then began wandering around with Sati’s body. His detachment and anger disrupted the balance of the universe. Lord Vishnu then used his Sudarshan Chakra to dismember Sati’s corpse into 51 parts, and wherever these parts fell on Earth, Shaktipeeths of the Goddess were established.

Even after that, Lord Shiva remained absorbed in meditation in the cremation ground for a long time, applying the ashes of Goddess Sati. The ashes we see on Mahadev’s body are actually the ashes of Goddess Sati’s mortal body, and that is why he holds them dear to him. There are many other philosophical explanations for this as well.

The ashes symbolize renunciation. Lord Shiva appears to be a secular deity, and his lifestyle resembles that of a typical ascetic. Like a sage who, while leading a household life, remains detached from worldly desires and gives the message that in the end everything will turn to ashes. Brahma creates the universe and Vishnu nurtures it, but when negativity increases in the universe, Lord Shiva brings about destruction.

Ashes are also a symbol of this destruction or annihilation, which always reminds us that the end of those who follow the path of unrighteousness and sin is ashes.

One philosophical meaning of this is that this body, which we are proud of and for whose comfort and protection we do so many things, will one day become like ashes.

Death is inevitable for humans and after that this body will become ashes on the funeral pyre.

When an object turns into ashes by the touch of fire, it goes to the most sacred.

No bad qualities of any kind remain in him.

Many sanyasis and Naga sadhus apply ash all over their bodies. This ash not only protects their bodies from germs but also provides relief from cold and heat by covering all the hair follicles. Apart from this, insects like mosquitoes, bedbugs etc. also stay away from the body smeared with ashes.
There are said to be three types of ashes: Shrauta, Smarta and Laukika. The ashes obtained by performing Yagya as per Shruti’s method are Shruta ash, the ashes obtained by performing Yagya as per Smriti’s method are Smarta ash and the ashes prepared by burning the stump is Laukika ash.
Though bathing the Shivling with ashes is common, but the Bhasmaarti of Mahakaleshwar situated in Ujjain is famous all over the world. It is believed that years ago, the ashes of Bhootbhavan Lord Mahakal were used for performing the Aarti, but now this tradition has ended and now the Aarti and decoration is being done with the ashes of the wood.

Currently, Mahakal’s Bhasma Aarti uses ash prepared by burning wood from Shami, Peepal, Palash, Banyan, Amaltas, and Plum trees on medicated cow dung cakes made from Kapila cow dung. Enough herbs and camphor and guggulu are added to the burning embers, making this ash highly beneficial and effective for health and the environment.