गजाननपूजा तथा औपासन-होमविधिः
Worship of Gajānana and the Procedure of Aupāsana-Homa
समुद्धृत्य विधानेन त्रिपुण्ड्रं धारयेत्ततः । त्रियायुषैस्त्र्यम्बकैश्च मूर्ध्न आरभ्य च क्रमात्
samuddhṛtya vidhānena tripuṇḍraṃ dhārayettataḥ | triyāyuṣaistryambakaiśca mūrdhna ārabhya ca kramāt
Setelah mengambil abu suci sesuai tata-aturan, kemudian kenakan Tripuṇḍra. Mulai dari kepala dan berurutan, terapkan sambil melafalkan mantra-mantra Tiga-pemberi-usia dan invokasi Tryambaka.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s prescribed observances to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Tryambaka
Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeshvara
Sthala Purana: Tryambaka epithet connects to the Nāśik/Trimbak kṣetra where Śiva is worshipped as Tryambakeśvara; the site is famed for the manifestation tied to Gautama Ṛṣi and the descent/appearance of Godāvarī as a purifier of sin.
Significance: Tripuṇḍra and Tryambaka-invocation emphasize protection and purification; in the Tryambakeśvara kṣetra, worship is sought for removal of doṣas and for śuddhi leading toward mokṣa.
Mantra: Tryambaka-invocation implied (Tryambaka); commonly associated with “oṃ tryambakaṃ yajāmahe …” though the full mantra is not quoted in the verse.
Type: mahamrityunjaya
Role: nurturing
Cosmic Event: Pradoṣa is a customary Śaiva time for bhasma/tripuṇḍra and Tryambaka remembrance (contextual alignment; not explicit in verse).
It teaches Tripuṇḍra-dhāraṇa as a Shaiva mark of surrender to Pati (Shiva), purifying the body-mind and orienting the devotee toward liberation through disciplined observance.
Tripuṇḍra made from sacred ash is a bodily extension of Linga-worship: it keeps Saguna Shiva (Tryambaka) remembrance constant, making the devotee’s body a fit support for puja, japa, and dhyana.
Collect bhasma properly, then apply the three ash-lines in sequence starting from the head, while reciting Tryambaka-related invocations/mantras, integrating mantra-smaraṇa with the external rite.