Dhuna the Holy Fire

Dhuna the Holy Fire

Sadhu life in India is unique, carry many mysteries with it. Have you seen Sadhus sitting on ground with a dhuna of holy fire in front of him. It is a place surrounded by some curious people in search of God and by some in search of chilam (pipe) to have a phunk (smoke) of Ganja (marijuana-cannabis). Sadhus smoke it for better concentration during meditation and getting pleasure effect of bliss. Some people (3.5% of global population) use is used as medicine for relaxation, euphoria and increase in appetite in short run but with a loss of memory, cognition problem and schizophrenia in long run. 

But why does the Sadhu sit in front of a dhuna, the fire? Why do they smear ashes on their bodies? As general logic, one may presume that they live in caves or forest or away from human population, therefore, fire is a safety wall for them from wild animals, snakes and insects. As they live nude, the cover of ashes over their body gives them protection from the insect bites, and may be relief from atmospheric changes.

Why do the Sadhu seats in front of a dhuna, the fire? I asked Raja Babu, a Sadhu sitting in front of the dhuna with smearing ashes on his body.

God is One. HE is creator as Brahma, sustainer as Narayan and destroyer of evils as Shiva. When we pray God, we offer his fruits, food, etc, of our liking. Whatever we offer, it comes back as it is, as the idol won't eat it. We enjoy is as prasad as it is made as per our liking. But when we offer the things to fire, what happens? Nothing return. All turn into ashes. Fire is the mouth of God, he was explaining. Look at this dhuna. It has wood of mango, pomegranate and drumsticks trees. When they had life, they were green, giving fruits. Now they become wood and after burning into the fire, they all will become ash. Ash carry no identity of mango, pomegranate or drumstick. All are the same, the ash. Won't return. 

Now you may ask, why the Sadhu smears ashes on the body? It means, the Sadhu has lost his identity of name, race, ego, etc, everything. He becomes like ash, merged into the Bindu (Atma) that is in the Sindhu (Parmatma). There is no run for anything. Just resting in the cosmic power. Till the body is alive, he will pass through life of a human and then the body will be offered to fire to turn it into the ash. He is free from all bondages. 

Ash for many is Aish-O-Aaram, the luxury and comfort of life and Ash for many may be Aishwarya, the wealth and property or the female, the Mohini, death for demons and life for devas.

It is advised in Hinduism that whatever has been cooked, offer to fire first and then consume. Direct eating is bhoga and after offering it is prasada. It is advised in many religions that whatever we earn, we shall share the 10% of it for the charity and welfare of the society. When everything is going to be ashes, then why to carry attachments. Do enjoy, do consume the righteous (bhunjitha) but with detachment (tena tyakten) that everything in the universe is the manifestation of God (ishavasya idam sarvam, yatkincham jagatyam jagat) and none is the owner (ma gridhh kashya swiddhanam)

ॐ ईशा वास्यमिदँ सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत् ।
तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम् ।। १ ।।

"If all the Upanishads and all the other Scriptures happened all of a sudden to be reduced to ashes, and if only the first verse in the Ishopanishad were left in the memory of the Hindus, Hinduism would live forever" -- Mahatma Gandhi

At the end, all turn into Ashes. Let us offer the light of our life to the holy fire (the dhuna of existence), in bringing more lights in the life of others. Alakh Niranjan.

ॐ शान्ति शान्ति शान्तिः ॥

Punamchand

7 February 2017