Vibhuti is closely associated with Lord Shiva, who applies it all over His body. That's why He is often called 'Vibhuti Bhushan' (one who wears ash as his ornament).
Legend has it, the 'adi-yogi', Shiva was in deep meditation. When Gods desiring to see Shiva married, sent Kama-deva (God of desire) to seed love in Shiva's heart. When Kama tried to interrupt Shiva's meditation, the later opened his Third-Eye (furious vision of ultimate truth that burns everything) and singed Kama to ashes. Shiva then smeared the Vibhuti (ashes) on his body.
Why does Shiva smear Vibhuti upon his body? Let’s look at the significance.
Ash is what remains when anything is burnt away. Ash cannot be further reduced or transformed. Similarly, only Parmatma (God) remains when this Srishti (creation of Maya), transforms in the inferno of the ultimate truth, viz. death. Like ash, He cannot be further reduced or transformed. Shiva wears Vibhuti on him to remind us of this fact.
Normally, Vibhuti is worn along with a red tilaka (dot). Vibhuti relates to Shiva and red tilaka to Shakti (his consort Parvati). It symbolizes Shiva and Shakti, from whom the universe and everything in it emanates.
How do the Scriptures guide us with application of Vibhuti on our body and why?
A little Vibhuti should be applied on the
1. Agna chakra (between the eyebrows)
2. Vishuddhi chakra (pit of the throat) and
3. Anahata chakra (center of the chest where the ribcage meets)
Among the seven chakras (a.k.a Muladhara) in human body, the three listed here are extremely important for one’s well-being and spiritual development (most important goal of life per Hinduism)
We will look at the deeper significance of these chakras in our subsequent discussions.
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