Shloka 79
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
दिवा वा यदि वारात्रौ नारी वाथ नरोपि वा । पूजार्थं सजलं भस्म त्रिपुंड्रेणैव धारयेत्
divā vā yadi vārātrau nārī vātha naropi vā | pūjārthaṃ sajalaṃ bhasma tripuṃḍreṇaiva dhārayet
Whether by day or by night—whether woman or man—when one intends worship, one should wear only the Tripuṇḍra, made of sacred ash (bhasma) moistened with water.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
It teaches that Tripuṇḍra-bhasma is a universal Shaiva mark of devotion—beyond time (day/night) and social identity (woman/man)—supporting purity, remembrance of Shiva, and readiness for worship.
Tripuṇḍra is a preparatory observance for Saguna Shiva worship, especially Linga-pūjā; applying moistened bhasma aligns the devotee’s body and mind as a fit vessel for offering, mantra, and dhyāna.
Before pūjā, moisten sacred ash with water and apply it as three horizontal lines (Tripuṇḍra), maintaining a steady remembrance of Shiva while preparing for mantra-japa and Linga worship.