Shloka 103

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

शीर्षके च ललाटेच कंठे चांसद्वये भुजे । कूर्परे मणिबंधे च हृदये नाभिपार्श्वके

Transliteration

śīrṣake ca lalāṭeca kaṃṭhe cāṃsadvaye bhuje | kūrpare maṇibaṃdhe ca hṛdaye nābhipārśvake

Translation

On the crown of the head and on the forehead, on the throat, on both shoulders and the arms, at the elbows and the wrists, upon the heart, and on the sides of the navel—on these places the sacred marks should be set.

Word by Word

• शीर्षके: on the head
• शीर्षके: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्षक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: 'and')

• ललाटे: on the forehead
• ललाटे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• कण्ठे: on the neck/throat
• कण्ठे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• अंसद्वये: on the two shoulders
• अंसद्वये: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अंस (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: 'अंसयोः द्वयम्' (pair of shoulders); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भुजे: on the arm
• भुजे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन (collective/locative usage)

• कूर्परे: on the elbow
• कूर्परे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मणिबन्धे: on the wrist
• मणिबन्धे: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मणि (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: 'मणेः बन्धः' (wrist-joint); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• हृदये: on the heart/chest
• हृदये: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृदय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नाभिपार्श्वके: at the side of the navel
• नाभिपार्श्वके: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभि (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्श्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: 'नाभेः पार्श्वकः' (side near the navel); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Mapping tripuṇḍra to bodily loci supports internalization of worship (deha as āyatana), aiding steadiness and restraint of the senses.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It sanctifies the body as a temple of Pati (Shiva), teaching that disciplined outer observance—placing sacred marks on key bodily centers—supports inner purity and devotion, aligning the pashu (individual soul) toward liberation.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

By marking the body with Shaiva signs (commonly bhasma/Tripuṇḍra in this context), the devotee becomes ritually fit for Saguna Shiva worship, approaching the Linga with a consecrated body and a Shiva-centered identity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply sacred ash/Tripuṇḍra (as instructed in the surrounding Shaiva ritual context) on the listed body points, ideally while remembering Shiva and repeating the Panchakshara mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”