Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

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.

यथासंभवनं कुर्याद्देशकालाद्यपेक्षया उद्धूलनेप्यशक्तिश्चेत्त्रिपुण्ड्रादीनि कारयेत्

One should perform as is possible, according to place, time, and other considerations; if unable to smear or mark, one should at least make the tripuṇḍra and other marks.

त्रिनेत्रंत्रिगुणाधारंत्रिवेदजनकंशिवम् स्मरन्नमः शिवायेति ललाटे तु त्रिपुण्ड्रकम्

Remembering Shiva, the three-eyed, the foundation of the three guṇas, the origin of the three Vedas, and saying 'Salutations to Shiva,' one should apply the tripuṇḍra on the forehead.

ईशाभ्यांनम इत्युक्त्वापार्श्वयोश्च त्रिपुण्ड्रकम् बीजाभ्यां नम इत्युक्त्वाधारयेत्तुप्रकोष्ठयोः

Saying 'namaḥ' with the two syllables 'īśā' on both sides, one should apply the tripuṇḍra; saying 'namaḥ' with the two seed syllables, one should apply it on both forearms.

कुर्यादधः पितृभ्यां च उमेशाभ्यांतथोपरि भीमायेतिततःपृष्ठेशिरसःपश्चिमेतथा

One should make it below with the two syllables for the ancestors, above with those for Umā and Īśa, and likewise on the back and the rear of the head, as prescribed.

शैनकर्षे महाप्राज्ञशिवरूपमहापते शृणुरुद्राक्षमाहात्म्यं समासात्कथयाम्यहम्

O wise Śainaka, great lord in the form of Shiva, listen as I briefly recount to you the greatness of the Rudrākṣa.

शिवप्रियतमोज्ञेयो रुद्राक्षः परपावनः दर्शनात्स्पर्शनाज्जाप्यात्सर्वपापहरःस्मृतः

Rudrākṣa, most beloved of Shiva and supremely purifying, is said to remove all sins by sight, touch, or recitation.

पुरारुद्राक्षमहिमादेव्यग्रेकथितोमुने लोकोपकरणार्थायशिवेन परमात्मना

O sage, the greatness of Rudrākṣa was first told by the supreme soul Shiva to the goddess, for the benefit of the worlds.

शृणुदेविमहेशानिरुद्राक्षमहिमाशिवे कथयामितवप्रीत्याभक्तानांहितकाम्यया

Listen, O goddess, to the greatness of Rudrākṣa as told by Maheshāni Shiva, for your pleasure and for the welfare of devotees.

दिव्यवर्षसहस्राणि महेशानिपुनःपुरा तपःप्रकुर्वतस्त्रस्तंमनः संयम्यवै मम

O Maheshāni, long ago, for thousands of divine years, my mind, restrained and trembling, engaged in austerity.

स्वतंत्रेण परेशेन लोकोपकृतिकारिणा लीलयापरमेशानि चक्षुरुन्मीलितंमया

By his own will, the supreme lord, acting for the benefit of the worlds, playfully opened my eyes, O Parameśāni.