Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44
दीक्षितपुत्रस्य दैन्यचिन्ता तथा शिवरात्र्युपासनाप्रसङ्गः / The Initiate’s Son in Distress and the Occasion of Śivarātri Worship
ये त्रिपुण्ड्रधरा लोके विभूत्या सितया गणाः । ते सर्वे परिहर्तव्या नानेतव्याः कदाचन
ye tripuṇḍradharā loke vibhūtyā sitayā gaṇāḥ | te sarve parihartavyā nānetavyāḥ kadācana
ผู้ใดในโลกนี้สวมตรีปุณฑระด้วยวิภูติสีขาว ผู้นั้นทั้งปวงพึงหลีกเลี่ยง ไม่ควรนำมาคบหาในกาลใดๆ
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic discourse to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
The verse functions as a sectarian boundary-marker in the narrative, using the external sign of tripuṇḍra with vibhūti to identify a group that the speaker warns against associating with. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, it highlights that outer marks can be used to signal affiliation, but discernment in companionship (saṅga) is emphasized for protecting one’s sādhana and devotion.
Tripuṇḍra and vibhūti are classic Shaiva emblems connected with Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—where ash symbolizes purity, impermanence, and surrender to Pati (Shiva). Here, the text uses that emblem within a polemical context to comment on association; it does not negate Linga worship itself, but frames social/ritual boundaries within the discourse.
The immediate takeaway is guidance about saṅga (company): be cautious about whom you admit into close association in spiritual life. Indirectly, it references the Shaiva practice of applying white vibhūti as tripuṇḍra—often paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and devotion to Shiva.