About this Scripture
Jabali Upanishad deals with many concepts of Saivism, in the form of a conversation between Sage Pippalada and Sage Jabali. Sage Pippalapada raises questions regarding some fundamental aspects of Saivism such as Pati, pasu, pasa, jiva and the liberation of jiva. Sambava penance is described as the means for the liberation of the jivas, which involves ritual chanting of five mantras using the holy ash. The importance of wearing holy ash is also explained. It removes the sins and makes one fit for worship.
The text opens with sage Pippalada asking sage Jabali the questions, "what is the Ultimate Reality? who is Jiva? who is Pashu? Who is Pati? and how can one achieve Salvation?"
Jabali asserts that the answers to these questions were realized by Ishana (a form of Shiva) through meditation. Pashupati, or Shiva, is the Ultimate Reality, the only Reality, states verse 8 of the text.
The Jiva, asserts the Upanishad in verse 9, is that living organism when Ahamkara (ego) has transmigrated into its body. All Jiva including human beings are Pashu (animals) in different forms, and the Pata (lord) of all the Jiva is Pashupata state verses 10 through 13 of the text.
Everyone is a Pashu, states verse 14 of the Upanishad, because like beasts, everyone eats food, everyone lacks the discrimination between the changing world and the unchanging world, everyone is bothered by suffering and misery, everyone is controlled by someone else.
The supposed potrait of Jnana guru Siva Yogaswami from the Nandinatha (Shaiva) Sampradaya demonstrates three lines of the forehead suggested in the Jabali Upanishad
Sage Pippalada then asks Jabali if there is a way to gain this knowledge, one by which one is liberated unto salvation. Jabali answers yes, and the first step, he asserts, is to smear oneself with holy ash, reciting and remembering the mantra that everything is or will soon become ash. This, asserts the text in verse 19, is what Vedas discusses. Combine the holy ash or Bhasma in water, apply it as three streaks to the head, forehead, and shoulders, simultaneously reciting the hymns trayayusham and tryambakam as prayer to "Shambhava" (Lord Shiva).
How should the three lines be applied, Jabali is asked. The text states in verse 22, the three lines should occupy all of the forehead. The three lines signify the trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The top line represents “Garhapathya” agni or home fire, syllable “Aa” of AUM, one's own body (self), Rajas guna, the power to act, the Rigveda, ushakala (twilight hour) or early morning hour, and is the personification of Brahma. The second streak or the middle line denotes "Dakshinagni", syllable “Uu” of AUM, Sattva Guṇa (virtue), atman (soul, innermost self), the power to will, Yajurveda, midday, and is the personification of Vishnu. The third streak of bhasma or ash line represents the "Ahavaniya agni", the syllable "Ma" of AUM, the Supreme Self (Brahman), the power to know, the heavens, Tamas guna, Samaveda, evening time, and is personified by Shiva.
Smearing of the holy Bhasma or ash by a person, whether he is a brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha or sannyasa frees him from sins, makes him aware of the essence of the Vedas, gets him the benefit of bathing in holy rivers, and frees him from samsara.
