Three parallel horizontal lines drawn using ash on the forehead of Shiva devotees is known as the Tripundra. The Tripundra is made using bhasma or vibhuti and is a symbol of purification, rejuvenation and destruction. A red dot in the center of the Tripundra symbolizes Goddess Shakti.
The three parallel horizontal lines are also drawn on the sides of the arms by some Shiva devotees. Some Shaivites apply ash on the entire forehead.
Usually the three horizontal lines are made using ash but there are also many devotees who make Tripundra on forehead using sandalwood paste with a red dot in the center.
Another popular Tilak applied by Shiva devotees is the half-moon or Ardha-Chandra with a red dot in the center. The half-moon and the red dot represent Shiva and Shakti.
Another popular Tilak used by Shiva devotees is the trishul (trident) which is drawn on forehead using ash or sandalwood paste.
Staunch Shiva devotees who are no longer associated with society and lead the life of a mendicant apply ash on the entire body.
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Sacred marks on the forehead of Vishnu Devotees
5 comments:
Hi. Thank you for a excellent blogg!
I would like to use tripunda in my worship of Shiva. How do you make Bhasma or vibhuti? I live in Sweden so i think i have to try and make it myself.
Dear Meeradas,
The preparation of Bhasma is as follows:
Take fresh dried cow dung.Mix a little bit of camphor.Place it in a pit. Cover it with the rice coverings(I dont know the correct name). Burn it slowly in wood fire. You will get bhasma. Daily after bath apply it as tripundra bhasma on your forehead, neck, chest, upper arms, middle arms, wrists, abdomen, shoulders and both sides of lower back.
Thanks,
Hari
email:harisg64@gmail.com
good news. useful information., god bless
drsundaram
dear miradas, i think your blog is in swedish language.if you do not mind can you enable translation in english.
thank you kind regards drsundaram
bangalore
india
Lingam represents light blowing upwards.Our human form from head to toe is nothing less than Lingam.Each one of us yearn for light,illumination.Worship of Lingam is the quest of worshipper to move upward in journey in the realm of light,illmination to be unreturnable.
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