Shloka 28
त्रिपुरदीक्षाविधानम् — Tripura Dīkṣā: Prescriptive Procedure
Chapter on the Ordinance of Initiation
चत्वारो मुंडिनस्तेऽथ धर्मं पाषंडमाश्रिताः । हस्ते पात्रं दधानाश्च तुंडवस्त्रस्य धारकाः
catvāro muṃḍinaste'tha dharmaṃ pāṣaṃḍamāśritāḥ | haste pātraṃ dadhānāśca tuṃḍavastrasya dhārakāḥ
Then there were four shaven-headed men who had taken refuge in a heretical guise of “dharma.” They carried bowls in their hands and wore a cloth covering over the mouth.
Sūta Gosvāmī
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It warns that outward religious marks—shaved head, begging bowl, or mouth-cloth—do not by themselves constitute true dharma; Shaiva teaching emphasizes inner purity, devotion, and right orientation toward Śiva (Pati) rather than mere external display.
By contrasting superficial “religion” with authentic practice, it implicitly points toward sincere Saguna worship of Śiva—such as reverent Linga-upāsanā—performed with faith and humility, not as a social disguise.
The takeaway is to prioritize genuine Shaiva sādhana—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Tripuṇḍra/bhasma with right intent, and disciplined conduct—over merely adopting external ascetic symbols.