Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

शीर्षकेचललाटेचकंठेचांसद्वयेभुजे कूर्परेमणिबंधेचहृदयेनाभिपार्श्वके

On the head, on the forehead, on the throat, on both shoulders, on the arms, on the elbows, on the wrists, on the heart, on the navel, and on the sides.

पृष्ठेचैवंप्रतिष्ठाययजेत्तत्राश्विदैवते शिवशक्तिंतथारुद्रमीशंनारदमेवच

On the back in this way, one should establish and worship the deities there: Śiva, Śakti, Rudra, Īśa, and also Nārada.

वामादिनवशक्तीश्च एताः षोडशदेवताः नासत्योदस्रकश्चैव अश्विनौद्वौप्रकीर्तितौ

And the nine goddesses beginning with Vāmā—these are the sixteen deities; the two Aśvins, called Nāsatya and Dasra, are also mentioned.

अथवामूर्ध्निकेशेचकर्मयोर्वदनेतथा बाहुद्वये च हृदयेनाभ्यामूरुयुगेतथा

Or, on the head, on the hair, on the ears, on the face, on both arms, on the heart, on both sides of the navel, and on both thighs.

जानुद्वयेचपदयोः पृष्ठभागे च षोडश शिवश्चन्द्रश्च रुद्रःको विघ्नेशोविष्णुरेव वा

On both knees, on both feet, and on the back—these are the sixteen places: Śiva, Candra, Rudra, Vighneśa, or Viṣṇu.

श्रीश्चैवहृदयेशम्भुस्तथानाभौप्रजापतिः नागश्चनागकन्याश्च उभयोरृषिकन्यकाः

Śrī on the heart, Śambhu on the navel, Prajāpati, Nāga, Nāga maidens, and on both feet the daughters of the sages.

पादयोश्चसमुद्राश्चतीर्थाः पृष्ठे विशालतः इत्येव षोडश स्थानमथोच्यते

On the feet are the oceans and the sacred fords, and on the back, vastness; thus, the sixteen places are now declared.

गुह्यस्थानं ललाटश्च कर्णद्वयमनुत्तमम् अंसयुग्मं च हृदयं नाभिरित्येवमष्टकम्

The secret place, the forehead, both ears, the supreme, both shoulders, the heart, and the navel—thus, these eight.

ब्रह्मा च ऋषयः सप्तदेवताश्चप्रकीर्तिताः इत्येवं तु समुद्दिष्टं भस्मविद्भिर्मुनीश्वराः

Brahmā and the seven sages, and the deities are mentioned; thus, O lords of sages, these are prescribed by those who know the ashes.

अथ वा मस्तकं बाहूहृदयं नाभिरेव च पञ्चस्थानान्यमून्याहुर्धारणे भस्मविज्जनाः

Or, the head, the arms, the heart, and the navel—these five places are declared by those who know the ashes for the application.