Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 91
शिवस्यांगणलग्ना या तस्मात्तां धारयेत्सदा । ततस्त्रिपुंड्रे यत्पुम्यं तच्छृणुध्वं द्विजोत्तमाः
śivasyāṃgaṇalagnā yā tasmāttāṃ dhārayetsadā | tatastripuṃḍre yatpumyaṃ tacchṛṇudhvaṃ dvijottamāḥ
Oleh itu hendaklah seseorang sentiasa memakai apa yang melekat pada tubuh Śiva—iaitu abu suci-Nya (vibhūti). Maka sekarang, wahai yang terbaik antara yang dua kali lahir, dengarlah pahala yang terkandung dalam tripuṇḍra, tiga garis abu suci itu.
Narrator (Sūta/Lomaharṣaṇa tradition within Māheśvarakhaṇḍa)
Tirtha: Kedāra (Kedāranātha)
Type: kshetra
Listener: Brāhmaṇas (dvijottamāḥ)
Scene: A Śaiva teacher addresses brāhmaṇas, holding a small vessel of vibhūti; pilgrims in Himalayan attire apply three horizontal ash lines on the forehead before a liṅga, with snowy peaks and cedar forests behind.
FAQs
Bearing sacred ash is a visible vow of Śaiva identity and remembrance, linked to purification and divine protection.
Kedāra, where Śaiva marks like vibhūti and tripuṇḍra are taught as part of the tīrtha’s dharma.
Dhāraṇa (wearing) of Śiva’s vibhūti and the practice of applying tripuṇḍra are introduced.