Shloka 115

भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः

Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra

Devanagari script

ईशाभ्यां नम इत्युक्त्वापार्श्वयोश्च त्रिपुण्ड्रकम् । बीजाभ्यां नम इत्युक्त्वा धारयेत्तु प्रकोष्ठयोः

Transliteration

īśābhyāṃ nama ityuktvāpārśvayośca tripuṇḍrakam | bījābhyāṃ nama ityuktvā dhārayettu prakoṣṭhayoḥ

Translation

Uttering, “Salutations to the two Īśas,” one should apply the Tripuṇḍra marks upon both sides of the body. Then, uttering, “Salutations to the two Bījas,” one should place the sacred marks upon the two forearms.

Word by Word

• ईशाभ्याम्: with (the two words) ‘īśa’
• ईशाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), द्विवचन; मन्त्रपद-निर्देशे (with the two ‘īśa’ words)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपातवत् प्रयोगः; अव्ययप्राय (salutatory)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणार्थक (quotative: thus)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); अव्ययभाव (having said)

• पार्श्वयोः: on the two sides
• पार्श्वयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th case), द्विवचन; ‘on/at the two sides’ (contextual locative sense)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: tripuṇḍra mark
• त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिपुण्ड्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case/accusative), एकवचन

• बीजाभ्याम्: with the two bīja (seed syllables)
• बीजाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd case/instrumental), द्विवचन; मन्त्रबीजद्वय-निर्देशे (with the two seed-syllables)

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपातवत् प्रयोगः; अव्ययप्राय (salutation)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणार्थक (thus)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive); अव्ययभाव (having said)

• धारयेत्: should place/wear
• धारयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative); विधिलिङ् (Optative); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक (indeed)

• प्रकोष्ठयोः: on the two forearms
• प्रकोष्ठयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/7th case), द्विवचन; ‘on the two forearms’ (contextual locative sense)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The Kāśī/Viśveśvara-oriented bhasma-vidhi extends from forehead to flanks and forearms with specific invocations (‘īśābhyām’, ‘bījābhyām’), reflecting a ritualized mapping of Śiva’s powers onto the body as a moving kṣetra.

Significance: Transforms the practitioner’s body into a consecrated field for constant remembrance; supports purity and protection during pilgrimage and daily life in the Viśvanātha tradition.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ईशाभ्यां नमः । बीजाभ्यां नमः

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches mantra-suffused Tripuṇḍra-dhāraṇa: the outer act of applying bhasma becomes an inner orientation to Pati (Śiva), purifying the devotee and strengthening Shaiva identity and discipline.

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

Tripuṇḍra and mantra are preparatory acts for Saguna Śiva worship—especially Liṅga-pūjā—by consecrating the body as a fit vessel for devotion and invoking Śiva’s presence through prescribed utterances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply Tripuṇḍra with bhasma on the sides of the body while reciting “īśābhyāṃ namaḥ,” and place the sacred mark on the forearms while reciting “bījābhyāṃ namaḥ,” as part of Shaiva daily practice and pūjā preparation.