Shloka 44
भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः
Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra
त्रिपुंड्रं ये विनिंदंति निन्दन्ति शिवमेव ते । धारयंति च ये भक्त्या धारयन्ति तमेव ते
tripuṃḍraṃ ye viniṃdaṃti nindanti śivameva te | dhārayaṃti ca ye bhaktyā dhārayanti tameva te
Ceux qui dénigrent le Tripuṇḍra —les trois lignes de bhasma— dénigrent en vérité le Seigneur Śiva Lui-même. Et ceux qui, avec bhakti, portent le Tripuṇḍra, ces dévots portent réellement Śiva Lui-même sur leur personne et dans leur être.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s teachings on Shaiva marks and devotion to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Significance: Equates reverence for tripuṇḍra with reverence for Śiva; wearing it with bhakti is treated as ‘bearing Śiva’—a portable darśana and constant remembrance.
Type: stotra
FAQs
The verse equates reverence for the Tripuṇḍra (bhasma-mark) with reverence for Śiva Himself, teaching that outer Shaiva symbols, when worn with bhakti, embody inner alignment with Pati (Śiva) and support liberation-oriented devotion.
Tripuṇḍra is a visible Shaiva sign that complements Saguna worship—especially Linga-pūjā—by marking the devotee as dedicated to Śiva; honoring the mark is treated as honoring Śiva’s manifest presence and His worship tradition.
Wear the Tripuṇḍra with devotion—traditionally applying consecrated bhasma while remembering Śiva (often alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—and avoid disrespect toward Shaiva sacred marks.