Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

श्रौतंभस्मतथास्मार्तंद्विजानामेवकीर्तितम् अन्येषामपिसर्वेषामपरंभस्मलौकिकम्

Śrauta and smārta ash are prescribed only for twice-born men; for all others, the laukika ash is prescribed.

धारणंमंत्रतः प्रोक्तंद्विजानांमुनिपुंगवैः केवलंधारणंज्ञेयमन्येषांमंत्रवर्जितम्

The practice of dhāraṇa with mantra has been taught for the twice-born by eminent sages; for others, only the application without mantra is to be known.

आग्नेयमुच्यतेभस्मदग्धगोमयसंभवम् तदापिद्रव्यमित्युक्तंत्रिपुंड्रस्यमहामुने

That which arises from cow dung burned to ash is called 'āgneya'; this too is said to be the substance for the tripuṇḍra, O great sage.

अग्निहोत्रोत्थितंभस्मसंग्राह्यंवामनीषिभिः अन्ययज्ञोत्थितंवापित्रिपुण्ड्रस्यचधारणे

The ash produced from the agnihotra should be taken by those who know, or ash from other sacrifices, for the application of the tripuṇḍra.

अग्निरित्यादिभिर्मंत्रैर्जाबालोपनिषद्गतेः सप्तभिधूलनंकार्यंभस्मनासजलेनच

With mantras beginning with 'Agni', as found in the Jābāla Upaniṣad, one should sprinkle the ash seven times with water from the mouth.

वर्णानामाश्रमाणांचमंत्रतोमंत्रतोपि च त्रिपुंड्रोद्धूलनंप्रोक्तजाबालैरादरेणच

For the castes and stages of life, with mantra or without mantra, the application of the tripuṇḍra is prescribed by the Jābālas with reverence.

भस्मनोद्धूलनंचैवयथातिर्यक्त्रिपुंड्रकम् प्रमादादपिमोक्षार्थीनत्यजेदितिविश्रुतिः

The application of ash and the transverse tripuṇḍra, even if done by mistake, should not be abandoned by those seeking liberation, so declares the tradition.

शिवेनविष्णुनाचैवतथातिर्यक्त्रिपुंड्रकम् उमादेवीचलक्ष्मींश्चवाचान्याभिश्चनित्यशः

By Śiva, by Viṣṇu, and likewise by Umā Devī and Lakṣmī, and by other goddesses, the transverse tripuṇḍra is always worn.

ब्राह्मणैः क्षत्रियैर्वैश्यैः शूद्रैरपिचसंस्करैः अपभ्रंशैर्धृतंभस्मत्रिपुंड्रोद्धूलनात्मना

By brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas, and śūdras, whether refined or unrefined, the tripuṇḍra made of ash is to be applied by one's own hand.

उद्धूलनंत्रिपुंड्रंचश्रद्धयानाचरंतिये तेषांनास्तिसमाचारोवर्णाश्रमसमन्वितः

Those who apply the tripuṇḍra with faith, their conduct is not bound by caste or stage of life.

उद्धूलनंत्रिपुंड्रंचश्रद्धयानाचरंतिये तेषांनास्तिविनिमुंक्तिस्संसाराज्जन्मकोटिभिः

Those who apply the tripuṇḍra with faith are never released from saṃsāra even after millions of births.

उद्धूलनंत्रिपुंड्रंचश्रद्धयानाचरन्तिये तेषांनास्तिशिवज्ञानंकल्पकोटिशतैरपि

Those who apply the tripuṇḍra with faith do not attain knowledge of Śiva even after hundreds of millions of aeons.

उद्धूलनंत्रिपुंड्रं च श्रद्धयानाचरन्तिये तेमहापातकैर्युक्ता इतिशास्त्रीयनिर्णयः

Those who apply the tripuṇḍra with faith are said by the scriptures to be associated with great sins.

उद्धूलनंत्रिपुंड्रंचश्रद्धयानाचरन्ति ये तेषामाचरितं सर्वंविपरीतफलाय हि

Whatever is performed by those who apply the tripuṇḍra with faith, all of it leads to contrary results.

महापातकयुक्तानां जंतूनांशर्वविद्विषाम् त्रिपुंड्रोद्धूलनद्वेषोजायतेसुदृढं मुने

For those beings afflicted by great sins and haters of Śarva, a strong aversion arises towards the application of the tripuṇḍra, O sage.

शिवाग्निकार्यं यः कृत्वाकुर्यात्त्रियायुषात्मवित् मुच्यतेसर्वपापैस्तुस्पृष्टेनभस्मनानरः

He who, having performed the Śiva fire rite, applies the tripuṇḍra with ash, is freed from all sins, even if he has a short lifespan.

सितेनभस्मनाकुर्यात्त्रिसन्ध्यंयस्त्रिपुण्ड्रकम् सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तः शिवेनसहमोदते

He who applies the tripuṇḍra with white ash at the three junctions of the day is freed from all sins and rejoices together with Śiva.

सितेनभस्मना कुर्यालाटे तु त्रिपुण्ड्रकम् योसावनादिभूतान्हिलोकानाप्तो मृतोभवेत्

He who applies the tripuṇḍra with white ash on the forehead attains the worlds beginning with Brahmā, and upon death, is liberated.

अकृत्वा भस्मनास्नानं न जपेद्वैषडक्षरम् त्रिपुंड्रं च रचित्वा तु विधिनाभस्मनाजपेत्

Without bathing with ash, one should not recite the six-syllable mantra; but having properly applied the tripuṇḍra with ash, one should recite it.

अदयो वाधमो वापि सर्वपापान्वितोपि वा उषःपापान्वितो वापिमूर्खो वा पतितोपि वा

Whether one is noble or base, even if burdened with every sin, tainted by the sins of dawn, ignorant, or fallen—

यस्मिन्देशेवसेन्नित्यंभूतिशासनसंयुतः सर्वतीर्थैश्चक्रतुभिःसांनिध्यंक्रियतेसदा

In whatever place the command of Bhūti is always observed, there, through all sacred fords and sacrifices, presence is ever established.

त्रिपुंड्रसहितो जीवः पूज्यः सर्वैः सुरासुरैः पापान्वितोपि शुद्धात्मा किं पुनः श्रद्धया युतः

A living being marked with the three lines is to be honored by all gods and demons; even if sinful, he is pure in soul—how much more so if endowed with faith.

यस्मिन्देशे शिवज्ञानी भूतिशासनसंयुतः गतो यदृच्छयाद्यापि तस्मिस्तीर्थाः समागताः

Wherever a knower of Śiva, observing the command of Bhūti, happens to go by chance, there all sacred fords are gathered.

बहुनात्रकिमुक्तेनधार्यंभस्मसदा बुधैः लिंगार्चनंसदाकार्यंजप्योमंत्रःषडक्षरः

What more needs to be said? The wise should always bear the sacred ash; worship of the liṅga and recitation of the six-syllabled mantra must always be performed.

ब्रह्मणाविष्णुनावापि रुद्रेणमुनिभिः सुरैः भस्मधारणमाहात्म्यंनशक्यंपरिभाषितुम्

Not even Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Rudra, sages, or gods are able to fully describe the greatness of wearing ash.

इति वर्णाश्रमाचारोलुप्तवर्णक्रियोपि च पापात्सकृत्त्रिपुंड्रस्यधारणात्सोपिमुच्यते

Thus, even one who has abandoned the duties of caste and stage of life, or whose caste rites are lost, is freed from sin by merely wearing the tripuṇḍra once.

येभस्मधारिणंत्यक्त्वाकर्मकुर्वंतिमानवाः तेषां नास्तिविनिर्मोक्षः संसाराज्जन्मकोटिभिः

Those people who, neglecting the wearer of ash, perform rituals—there is no liberation for them from saṃsāra, even after millions of births.

ते नाधीतंगुरोःसर्वंतेनसर्वमनुष्ठितम् येनविप्रेणशिरसित्रिपुंड्रंभस्मनाकृतम्

Whatever has been learned from the teacher, whatever has been performed, is all in vain for that brāhmaṇa who has not marked his head with the tripuṇḍra of ash.

ये भस्मधारिणं दृष्ट्वानराः कुर्वंतिताडनम् तेषांचंडालतोजन्मब्रह्मन्नूह्यंविपश्चिता

Those men who, seeing a wearer of ash, commit violence against him—the wise know that their birth is lower than that of a caṇḍāla.