Shloka 94
भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः
Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra
शिवश्चैव च रेखायास्तृतियायाश्च देवता । विज्ञेया मुनिशार्दूल शिवदीक्षापरायणौ
śivaścaiva ca rekhāyāstṛtiyāyāśca devatā | vijñeyā muniśārdūla śivadīkṣāparāyaṇau
Know, O tiger among sages, that Śiva Himself is the presiding deity of the third ritual line; thus is it to be understood by those devoted to Śiva’s initiation (Śiva-dīkṣā).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It establishes that Śiva is not merely worshipped through symbols, but is the conscious presiding Lord (Pati) of the initiation-rite itself—especially the third sacred line—affirming that dīkṣā is Śiva’s grace working through ritual form.
By assigning Śiva as the presiding deity of a specific ritual marker, the text supports Saguna worship: Śiva becomes accessible through consecrated forms, lines, and procedures, which lead the devotee toward His higher, transcendent reality.
It points to disciplined Śiva-dīkṣā practice: performing prescribed sacred markings/lines with Śiva-remembrance, supported by mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī) as part of an initiated Shaiva observance.