Mahasivaratri is the favourite night of Lord Siva and takes place on the 14th tithi of the dark half of the lunar cycle during the Tamil month that falls between mid-February and mid-March. Each year on this night following the first kaala puja in Bhagavan’s Hall, the Ashram priests take the arati flame in procession from Bhagavan’s hall to the gosala. There a large fire is ignited. The material to burn is made up principally of dried cow dung formed in the shape of balls, nested within a large heap of dried paddy husks. The husks are lit with camphor and burn and smoulder for one week until exhausted, leaving the cooked balls which have now been transformed into vibhuti. Vibhuti is the sacred ash used for the coming year in the Ashram pujas and distributed as prasad. How beautiful this ancient rite that closes the circle and exemplifies what Bhagavan always said about the created realm, that nothing should be wasted. In this case, the cow is seen as the embodiment of the 33 crore deities and every aspect of her is divinity itself. So, the ash of her dung is among the most coveted items in the sacramental life of the community. —