Shloka 73
भस्म-प्रकार-त्रिपुण्ड्र-धारण-विधिः
Types of Bhasma and the Method of Wearing Tripuṇḍra
सर्वोपनिषदां सारं समालोक्य मुहुर्मुहुः । इदमेव हि निर्णीतं परं श्रेयस्त्रिपुंड्रकम्
sarvopaniṣadāṃ sāraṃ samālokya muhurmuhuḥ | idameva hi nirṇītaṃ paraṃ śreyastripuṃḍrakam
เมื่อพิจารณาแก่นแท้แห่งอุปนิษัททั้งปวงซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่า ก็ได้ข้อสรุปแน่ชัดว่า “ตรีปุณฑระ” คือเส้นศักดิ์สิทธิ์สามเส้นแห่งวิภูติเท่านั้น เป็นหนทางสูงสุดสู่ความเกษมอันยิ่งใหญ่।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the established conclusion of Śaiva scripture to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: In Kāśī’s Viśveśvara milieu, Tripuṇḍra is presented as the distilled ‘Upaniṣadic essence’—a visible Śaiva identity-marker signifying surrender to Paśupati and eligibility for grace.
Significance: Tripuṇḍra functions as a portable ‘kṣetra’: constant remembrance of Śiva, dispassion (vairāgya) and alignment with Śaiva conduct while in the pilgrimage city and beyond.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It declares that the Tripuṇḍra of bhasma is not merely an outer mark but a Śaiva sādhanā affirmed as the distilled ‘essence’ of Upaniṣadic teaching—supporting purification, humility, and orientation to Śiva as Pati, the supreme goal.
Tripuṇḍra is a Śaiva identifier and devotional discipline that aligns the worshipper with Saguna Śiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—by consecrating the body as fit for ritual, japa, and temple worship, while remembering Śiva’s transcendence beyond form.
Regular application of sacred ash as Tripuṇḍra (with reverence and mantra-remembrance) is implied as a daily practice supporting purity, restraint, and steady devotion—often paired in Śaiva observance with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).