Shloka 29
भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः
Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra
इति वर्णाश्रमाचारो लुप्तवर्णक्रियोपि च । पापात्सकृत्त्रिपुंड्रस्य धारणात्सोपि मुच्यते
iti varṇāśramācāro luptavarṇakriyopi ca | pāpātsakṛttripuṃḍrasya dhāraṇātsopi mucyate
ఇలా, వర్ణాశ్రమాచారం లుప్తమైనవాడైనా, తన వర్ణక్రియలను విస్మరించినవాడైనా—ఒక్కసారి త్రిపుండ్రాన్ని ధరిస్తేనే పాపం నుండి విముక్తుడవుతాడు.
Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single kṣetra; it asserts the salvific accessibility of Śaiva marks: even lapsed varṇāśrama conduct is overridden by the purifying sign of tripuṇḍra through Śiva’s grace.
Significance: Frames tripuṇḍra as a ‘portable vrata’—a minimal act that reorients the bound soul toward Śiva and begins release from pāpa.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva’s grace-access is not blocked by one’s fallen conduct; even a single sincere act of bearing Tripuṇḍra (sacred ash) can cut sin and reopen the path toward purification and liberation.
Tripuṇḍra is a Shaiva mark of belonging to Shiva and a bodily seal of devotion; it aligns the worshipper with Saguna Shiva’s ritual path, preparing one for Linga-worship and inner remembrance of Shiva.
Wear Tripuṇḍra—three horizontal lines of vibhūti (bhasma), traditionally with Shiva-mantra remembrance (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), as a purificatory Shaiva practice.