हृदो भूमध्यपर्यन्तं वृत्तं षड्बिन्दुलाञ्छितम् । यं बीजयुक्तं धूम्राभं नभस्वन्मण्डलं स्मरेत्
One should contemplate the circular region, marked with six dots, extending from the heart to the center of the earth, which is endowed with the seed-syllable, smoky in appearance, and is the sphere of ether.
आब्रह्मरन्ध्रं भ्रूमध्याद्वृत्तं स्वच्छं मनोहरम् । हं बीजयुक्तमाकाशमण्डलं च विचिन्तयेत्
One should further meditate on the clear, delightful, circular sphere of ether, extending from the space between the eyebrows up to the crown of the head, endowed with the 'haṃ' seed-syllable.
एवं भूतानि सञ्चिन्त्य प्रत्येकं संविलापयेत् । भुवं जले जलं वह्नौ वह्निं वायौ नभस्यमुम्
Having thus contemplated these elements, one should dissolve each in turn: earth into water, water into fire, fire into air, and air into ether.
विलाप्य खमहङ्कारे महत्तत्त्वेऽप्यहङ्कृतिम् । महान्तं प्रकृतौ मायामात्मनि प्रविलापयेत्
Dissolving ether into the sense of ego, the ego into the great principle, and the great principle into primordial nature, one should merge primordial nature into the Self.
शुद्धसंविन्मयो भूत्वा चिन्तयेत्पापपूरुषम् । वामकुक्षिस्थितं कृष्णमङ्गुष्ठपरिमाणकम्
Becoming pure consciousness, one should contemplate the embodiment of sin, black in color, the size of a thumb, situated in the left side of the abdomen.
ब्रह्महत्याशिरोयुक्तं कनकस्तेयबाहुकम् । मदिरापानहृदयं गुरुतल्पकटीयुतम्
It has the head of Brahmanicide, arms of gold theft, a heart of wine drinking, and hips associated with the sin of violating the teacher's bed.
तत्संसर्गिपदद्वन्द्वमुपपातकमस्तकम् । खड्गचर्मधरं कृष्णमधोवक्त्रं सुदुःसहम्
Its feet are joined with the sin of association, its head with incidental sins; it is black, holds a sword and shield, has a downward-facing mouth, and is exceedingly terrible.
वायुबीजं स्मरन्वायुं सम्पूर्यैनं विशोषयेत् । स्वशरीरयुतं मन्त्रो वह्निबीजेन निर्दहेत्
Remembering the seed-syllable of air, one should fill it with air and dry it up; then, with the mantra united with one's own body, burn it with the seed-syllable of fire.
कुम्भके परिजप्तेन ततः पापनरोद्भवम् । बहिर्भस्म समुत्सार्य वायुबीजेन रेचयेत्
Having recited during retention, then, with the seed-syllable of air, expel the ashes, which arise from the destruction of sin, outward.
सुधाबीजेन देहोत्थं भस्म संप्लावयेत्सुधीः । भूबीजेन घनीकृत्य भस्म तत्कनकाण्डवत्
With the seed-syllable of nectar, the wise should flood the body with the ashes produced, and with the seed-syllable of earth, solidify the ashes like a golden staff.
विशुद्धमुकुराकारं जपन्बीजं विहायसः । मूर्धादिपादपर्यन्तान्यङ्गानि रचयेत्सुधीः
Contemplating the pure, mirror-like form, the wise should, reciting the seed-syllable of ether, form the limbs from the crown of the head to the tips of the feet.
आकाशादीनि भूतानि पुनरुत्पादयेच्चितः । सोऽहं मन्त्रेण चात्मानमानयेद्धृदयाम्बुजे
Then, one should mentally recreate the elements beginning with ether, and with the mantra 'so'ham', bring the self into the lotus of the heart.
कुण्डलीजीवमादाय परसङ्गात्सुधामयम् । संस्थाप्य हृदयाम्भोजे मूलाधारगतां स्मरेत्
Taking the life-force of Kuṇḍalinī, made of nectar, from the association with the supreme, one should establish it in the lotus of the heart and remember it as residing in the root center.
रक्ताम्भोधिस्थपोतोल्लसदरुण- सरोजाधिरूढा कराब्जैः शूलं कोदण्डमिक्षूद्भवमणिगुण- मप्यङ्कुशं पञ्चबाणान् । बिभ्राणासृक्कपालं त्रिनयन- लसिता पीनवक्षोरुहाढ्या देवी बालार्कवर्णा भवतु सुखकरी प्राणशक्तिः परा नः
May the supreme life-force, the Goddess, who is seated upon a radiant red lotus rising from the ocean of blood, holding in her lotus hands a trident, a bow, sugarcane, a string of jewels, a goad, and five arrows, bearing a skull cup with blood, adorned with three eyes, endowed with full breasts, and shining with the color of the rising sun, bring us happiness.
एवं ध्यात्वा प्राणशक्तिं परमात्मस्वरूपिणीम् । विभूतिधारणं कार्यं सर्वाधिकृतिसिद्धये
Having thus meditated on the life-force as the very form of the Supreme Self, one should perform the wearing of sacred ash for the attainment of all authority and success.
विभूतेर्विस्तरं वक्ष्ये धारणे च महाफलम् । श्रुतिस्मृतिप्रमाणोक्तं भस्मधारणमुत्तमम्
I shall now declare the full extent of the sacred ash and the great fruit of its application; the wearing of ash, as taught in the scriptures and tradition, is supreme.
सशिरोव्रतं त्रिपुण्डधारणवर्णनम् श्रीनारायण उवाच इदं शिरोव्रतं चीर्णं विधिवद्यैर्द्विजातिभिः । तेषामेव परां विद्यां वदेदज्ञानबाधिकाम्
Śrī Nārāyaṇa said: This head-vow, when properly observed by the twice-born, grants them the supreme knowledge that dispels ignorance.
विधिवच्छ्रद्धया सार्धं न चीर्णं यैः शिरोव्रतम् । श्रौतस्मार्तसमाचारस्तेषामनुपकारकः
For those who have not properly performed the head-vow with faith, the practices prescribed by the Vedas and Smṛtis are of no benefit.
शिरोव्रतसमाचारादेव ब्रह्मादिदेवताः । देवता अभवन्विद्वन् खलु नान्येन हेतुना
It is solely through the observance of the Śirovrata that Brahmā and the other deities became gods, O wise one, and not by any other cause.
शिरोव्रतस्य माहात्म्यं पूर्वैः पूर्वतरं कृतम् । ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च देवताः सकला अपि
The greatness of the Śirovrata was established by those of old; Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra, and all the deities indeed.
सर्वपातकयुक्तोऽपि मुच्यते सर्वपातकैः । शिरोव्रतमिदं येन चरितं विधिवद्बुधैः
Even one burdened with all sins is freed from every sin, if he has properly observed this Śirovrata according to the wise.
शिरोव्रतमिदं नाम शिरस्याथर्वणश्रुतेः । यदुक्तं तद्धि नैवान्यत्तत्तु पुण्येन लभ्यते
This vow called Śirovrata, as spoken in the Atharvaṇa Veda, is not found elsewhere; it is attained only through merit.
शाखाभेदेषु नामानि व्रतस्यास्य विभेदतः । पठ्यन्ते मुनिशार्दूल शाखास्वेकव्रतं हि तत्
O best of sages, the names of this vow differ according to the branches, but in each branch it is indeed the same vow.
सर्वशाखासु वस्त्वेकं शिवाख्यं सत्यचिद्घनम् । तथा तद्विषयं ज्ञानं तथैव च शिरोतव्रतम्
In all the branches, the true essence is one—called Śiva, dense with truth and consciousness; likewise, the knowledge concerning it and the Śirovrata itself.
शिरोव्रतविहीनस्तु सर्वधर्मविवर्जितः । अपि सर्वासु विद्यासु सोऽधिकारी न संशयः
One who is without the Śirovrata is devoid of all dharmas; even if learned in all sciences, he is not qualified—there is no doubt.
शिरोव्रतमिदं कार्यं पापकान्तारदाहकम् । साधनं सर्वविद्यानां यतस्तत्सम्यगाचरेत्
This Śirovrata must be performed, for it burns away the root of sin; it is the means to all knowledge, therefore one should practice it properly.
श्रुतिराथर्वणी सूक्ष्मा सूक्ष्मार्थस्य प्रकाशिनी । यदुवाच व्रतं प्रीत्या तन्नित्यं सम्यगाचरेत्
The Atharvaṇa Śruti is subtle, revealing the subtle meaning; the vow it prescribes should always be properly observed with devotion.
अग्निरित्यादिभिर्मन्त्रैः षड्भिः शुद्धेन भस्मना । सर्वाङ्गोद्धूलनं कुर्याच्छिरोव्रतसमाह्वयम्
With six mantras beginning with 'Agni', and with pure ashes, one should sanctify all limbs—this is called the Śirovrata.
एतच्छिरोव्रतं कुर्यात्सन्ध्याकालेषु सादरम् । यावद्विद्योदयस्तावत्तस्य विद्या खलूत्तमा
This Śirovrata should be performed with reverence at the times of twilight; as long as knowledge arises, his knowledge will indeed be supreme.
द्वादशाब्दमथाब्दं वा तदर्धं च तदर्धकम् । प्रकुर्याद्द्वादशाहं वा सङ्कल्पेन शिरोव्रतम्
One should perform the Śirovrata for twelve years, or a year, or half of that, or half of that again, or for twelve days with resolve.