Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

विभूतिंनिंदतेयोवैब्राह्मणः सोन्यजातकः यातिचनरकेघोरेयावद्ब्रह्मा चतुर्मुखः

A brāhmaṇa or anyone else who reviles the sacred ash goes to a terrible hell for as long as Brahmā with four faces exists.

श्राद्धेयज्ञेजपेहोमेवैश्वदेवेसुरार्चने धृतत्रिपुंड्रःपूतात्मामृत्युंजयतिमानवः

In śrāddha, sacrifice, recitation, homa, offering to the gods, and worship, a man who bears tripuṇḍra, with a pure heart, conquers death.

जलस्नानं मलत्यागेभस्मस्नानंसदाशुचि मंत्रस्नानंहरेत्पापंज्ञानस्नानेपरंपदम्

Bathing in water removes dirt, bathing in ash always purifies, bathing in mantra removes sin, and bathing in knowledge leads to the supreme state.

सर्वतीर्थेषुयत्पुण्यंसर्वतीर्थेषुयत्फलम् तत्फलंसमवाप्नोतिभस्मस्नानकरोनरः

Whatever merit and reward is gained at all sacred waters, that same reward is obtained by a person who bathes with ashes.

भस्मस्नानं परं तीर्थंगंगास्नानंदिनेदिने भस्मरूपीशिवःसाक्षाद्भस्म त्रैलोक्यपावनम्

Bathing with ashes is the supreme pilgrimage; bathing in the Ganga every day is likewise so. Shiva himself is manifest as ash, and ash purifies the three worlds.

नतदूनंनतद्ध्यानंनतद्दानंजपोनसः त्रिपुंड्रेणविनायेन विप्रेण यदनुष्ठितम्

No meditation, no contemplation, no charity, nor recitation performed by a Brahmin is equal, if done without the tripuṇḍra.

वानप्रस्थस्यकन्यानांदीक्षाहीननृणां तथा मध्याह्नात्प्राग्जलैर्युक्तंपरतोजलवर्जितम्

For forest-dwellers, maidens, and those without initiation, before midday, water is used; after that, water is to be avoided.

एवं त्रिपुंड्रं यः कुर्यान्नित्यंनियतमानसः शिवभक्तः सविज्ञेयो भुक्तिमुक्तिं च विंदति

Thus, whoever applies the tripuṇḍra daily with a disciplined mind, and is a devotee of Shiva, is to be known as one who attains both enjoyment and liberation.

यस्यांगेनैवरुद्राक्ष एकोपिबहुपुण्यदः तस्यजन्मनिरर्थंस्यात्त्रिपुंड्ररहितो यदि

If someone wears even a single rudrākṣa on their body, which bestows much merit, their life is rendered fruitless if they are without the tripuṇḍra.

एवंत्रिपुंड्रमाहात्म्यंसमासात्कथितंमया रहस्यंसर्वजंतूनां गोपनीयमिदं त्वया

Thus, I have briefly described to you the greatness of the tripuṇḍra; this secret, which concerns all beings, must be kept concealed by you.

तिस्रोरेखाभवंत्येवस्थानेषुमुनिपुंगवाः ललाटादिषुसर्वेषुयथोक्तेषुबुधैर्मुने

O best of sages, three lines are to be made at the prescribed places, such as the forehead and others, as taught by the wise.

भ्रुवोर्मध्यंसमारभ्ययावदंतोभवेद्भ्रुवोः तावत्प्रमाणंसंधार्यं ललाटे च त्रिपुंड्रकम्

Beginning from the space between the eyebrows and extending to the ends of the brows, that is the measure to be maintained for the tripuṇḍra on the forehead.

मध्यमानामिकांगुल्यामध्येतुप्रतिलोमतः अंगुष्ठेन कृतारेखा त्रिपुंड्राख्या भिधीयते

With the middle and ring fingers, in a reverse direction, a line is drawn with the thumb; this is called the tripuṇḍra.

मध्येंगुलिभिरादाय तिसृभिर्भस्मयत्नतः त्रिपुण्ड्रधारयेद्भक्त्याभुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदंपरम्

Taking ash carefully with the three fingers in the middle, one should apply the tripuṇḍra with devotion; it bestows the highest enjoyment and liberation.

तिसृणामपि रेखानां प्रत्येकंनवदेवताः सर्वत्रांगेषुतावक्ष्येसावधानतया शृणु

For each of the three lines, there are nine deities; I will now tell you about them for all the limbs—listen attentively.

अकारो गार्हपत्याग्निर्भूधर्मश्च रजोगुणः ऋग्वेदश्च क्रियाशक्तिः प्रातःसवनमेव च

The syllable 'a', the household fire, the earth, dharma, the quality of rajas, the Rigveda, the power of action, and the morning libation—

महदेवश्च रेखायाः प्रथमायाश्च देवता विज्ञेया मुनिशार्दूलाः शिवदीक्षापरायणैः

—and Mahadeva are to be known as the deities of the first line, O best of sages, by those devoted to Shiva's initiation.

उकारो दक्षिणाग्निश्च नभस्तत्त्वं यजुस्तथा मध्यंदिनं च सवनमिच्छाशक्त्यंतरात्मकौ

The syllable 'u', the southern fire, the element of space, the Yajurveda, the midday libation, and the power of will are inherent in the second line.

महेश्वरश्च रेखाया द्वितीयायाश्च देवता विज्ञेयामुनिशार्दूल शिवदीक्षापरायणैः

And Maheśvara is to be known as the deity of the second line, O best of sages, by those devoted to Shiva's initiation.

मकाराहवनीयौ च परमात्मा तमोदिवौ ज्ञानशक्तिः सामवेदस्तृतीयं सवनं तथा

The syllable 'ma', the sacrificial fire, the supreme self, the night and darkness, the power of knowledge, the Sāmaveda, and the third libation—

शिवश्चैव च रेखायास्तृतियायाश्च देवता विज्ञेयामुनिशार्दूल शिवदीक्षापरायणौ

—and Shiva himself are to be known as the deity of the third line, O best of sages, by those devoted to Shiva's initiation.

एवं नित्यं नमस्कृत्य सद्भक्त्या स्थानदेवताः त्रिपुंड्रं धारयेच्छुद्धो भुक्तिंमुक्तिं च विंदति

Thus, always bowing with true devotion to the presiding deities of the places, one who is pure should apply the tripuṇḍra and attains both enjoyment and liberation.

इत्युक्ताःस्थानदेवाश्चसर्वांगेषुमुनिश्वर तेषां संबंधिनोभक्त्यास्थानानिशृणुसांप्रतम्

So addressed, O lord of sages, the presiding deities of the places—hear now, with devotion, the places associated with them on all the limbs.

द्वात्रिंशत्स्थानके वार्धषोडशस्थानकेपि च अष्टस्थाने तथा चैव पञ्चस्थानेपि नान्यसेत्

There are thirty-two places, or alternatively sixteen places, or eight places, or even five places—let there be no others.

उत्तमांगे ललाटे च कर्णयोर्नेत्रयोस्तथा नासावक्त्रगलेष्वेवंहस्तद्वय अतःपरम्

On the crown of the head, on the forehead, on both ears, on both eyes, on the nostrils, mouth, throat, and then on both hands in this way.

कूर्परे मणिबंधेचहृदयेपार्श्वयोर्द्वयोः नाभौमुष्कद्वयेचैवमूर्वोर्गुल्फेचजानुनि

On the elbows, on the wrists, on the heart, on both sides, on the navel, on both testicles, on the thighs, on the ankles, and on the knees.

जंघाद्वयेपदद्वन्द्वेद्वात्रिंशत्स्थानमुत्तमम् अग्न्यब्भूवायुदिग्देशदिक्पालान्वसुभिः सह

On both shanks and both feet—these are the thirty-two supreme places, along with the elements of fire, water, earth, wind, directions, and the guardians of the directions, together with the Vasus.

धराध्रुवश्चसोमश्च अपश्चेवानिलोनलः प्रत्यूषश्च प्रभासश्चवसवोष्टप्रकीर्तिताः

The earth, the pole star, the moon, water, wind, fire, dawn, and light—these are named as the eight Vasus.

एतेषांनाममात्रेणत्रिपुंड्रंधारयेद्बुधाः कुर्याद्वाषोडशस्थानेत्रिपुण्ड्रंतुसमाहितः

By merely uttering their names, the wise should apply the tripuṇḍra; or, with concentration, one may apply the tripuṇḍra at sixteen places.