Shloka 79
बन्धमोक्षवर्णनम्
Bondage and Liberation: The Prakṛti–Karma Wheel and Śiva as the Transcendent Cause
दिवा वा यदि वारात्रौ नारी वाथ नरोपि वा । पूजार्थं सजलं भस्म त्रिपुंड्रेणैव धारयेत्
divā vā yadi vārātrau nārī vātha naropi vā | pūjārthaṃ sajalaṃ bhasma tripuṃḍreṇaiva dhārayet
昼であれ夜であれ—女であれ男であれ—礼拝を志すときは、水で湿らせた聖灰（バスマ）を、ただトリプンダラ（Tripuṇḍra）の形として身に帯びるべきである。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
It teaches that Tripuṇḍra-bhasma is a universal Shaiva mark of devotion—beyond time (day/night) and social identity (woman/man)—supporting purity, remembrance of Shiva, and readiness for worship.
Tripuṇḍra is a preparatory observance for Saguna Shiva worship, especially Linga-pūjā; applying moistened bhasma aligns the devotee’s body and mind as a fit vessel for offering, mantra, and dhyāna.
Before pūjā, moisten sacred ash with water and apply it as three horizontal lines (Tripuṇḍra), maintaining a steady remembrance of Shiva while preparing for mantra-japa and Linga worship.