Skanda Purana — Brahma Khanda, Shloka 42
मध्यमानामिकांगुल्योर्मध्ये तु प्रतिलोमतः । अंगुष्ठेन कृता रेखा त्रिपुंड्रस्याभिधीयते
madhyamānāmikāṃgulyormadhye tu pratilomataḥ | aṃguṣṭhena kṛtā rekhā tripuṃḍrasyābhidhīyate
मध्यमा और अनामिका उँगली के बीच, उलटी दिशा में अँगूठे से जो रेखा खींची जाती है, वही त्रिपुण्ड्र की रेखा कही जाती है।
Śrī Rudra (Śiva)
Listener: Implied: the addressed sage
Scene: Close-up of hands: ash placed between middle and ring fingers; thumb draws a horizontal line in reverse direction; the resulting Tripuṇḍra appears neat and even.
FAQs
Traditional methods preserve sanctity—proper technique is part of reverence in Śaiva observance.
None is mentioned; the focus is the method of forming the Tripuṇḍra.
Form the Tripuṇḍra line with the thumb, using the space between the middle and ring fingers, in a reverse direction (pratiloma).