Apply the holy ash on the body- ॐ नम: शिवाय:

The places to apply the holy ash on the body
Vibhuti can be worn either in 32 places or 16 places or 8 places or five places.32 Places

32 Places
Head
Forehead
Two ears
Two eyes
Nose
Mouth
Neck
Two shoulders
Two elbows
Two wrists
Chest
Two ribs
Navel
Two sides of groin
Buttocks
Two urus
Two thighs
Two knees
Two ankles
Two feet
Total 32 Places


16 Places
Head
Forehead
2 ears
Neck
2 Shoulders
2 Elbows
2 Wrists
Chest
Navel
2 Ribs
Back
Total 16 places


8 Places
Head
Forehead
2 ears
2 Shoulders
Chest
Navel
Total 8 places


5 Places
Forehead
2 Shoulders
Chest
Navel
Total 5 places


One of the ways of taking bath as prescribed by vedas is known as Agneyam. It is defined as Agneyam bhasmasnAnam. That is Agneyam bath is nothing but bathing in the holy ash.


The holy ash has very good medicinal value. This could prevent/cure 81 diseases that are out of air (vata), and 64 of diseases caused by bile(pittam), and 215 of phlegm (kapham).