Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 44
आत्मा चैव क्रियाशक्तिः प्रातः सवनमेव च । महादेवस्तु रेखायाः प्रथमायास्तु देवता
ātmā caiva kriyāśaktiḥ prātaḥ savanameva ca | mahādevastu rekhāyāḥ prathamāyāstu devatā
Dazu gehören auch das Selbst (Ātman), die Kraft des Handelns und das morgendliche Soma-Pressen. Und Mahādeva ist die waltende Gottheit der ersten Linie.
Śrī Rudra (Śiva)
Scene: Dawn scene: a sage at a small altar, first rekhā highlighted on a sacred diagram; Mahādeva above as adhidevatā, with symbols of kriyā-śakti (hands in mudrā) and prātaḥ-savana (Soma-press stones).
FAQs
The Tripuṇḍra is contemplation in form: the first line is to be seen as governed by Mahādeva and aligned with selfhood and disciplined action.
No holy site is referenced; the verse teaches deity-correspondences of the Tripuṇḍra.
Meditatively regard Mahādeva as the presiding deity of the first Tripuṇḍra line, along with its associated principles.