What do the three horizontal stripes, also known as Tripundra of bhasma (ash), on Lord Shiva's forehead represent?
These are also drawn on the sides of arms of Lord Shiva as well as his devotees. What is the reason behind this?
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Sign up to join this communityWhat do the three horizontal stripes, also known as Tripundra of bhasma (ash), on Lord Shiva's forehead represent?
These are also drawn on the sides of arms of Lord Shiva as well as his devotees. What is the reason behind this?
The importance and significance of Tripundra is described in detail in Kalagnirudra Upanishad which is part of Krishna Yajurveda.
yAsya prathamA rekhA sA gArhapatyashchAkAro
rajobhUrlokaH svAtmA kriyAshaktirR^igvedaH
prAtaHsavanaM maheshvaro devateti yAsya dvitIyA rekhA
sA dakShiNAgnirukAraH satvamantarikShamantarAtmA-
chechChAshaktiryajurvedo mAdhya.ndinaM savanaM
sadAshivo devateti yAsya tR^itIyA rekhA sAhavanIyo makArastamo
dyaurlokaH paramAtmA j~nAnashaktiH sAmavedastR^itIyasavanaM
mahAdevo devateti evaM tripuNDravidhiM bhasmanA karoti
(He replied). The three lines should occupy the whole forehead, from the eyes to the scalp of the head including also the portion between the eyebrows.
It’s first line represents the Garhapatya fire, akara (in Om mantra) Rajas, Bhuloka (earth), Atman, Kriyasakti, RigVeda, the morning yaga, and the Deity Mahesvara.
The second line represents Dakshinagni, Ukara, Satva, Antariksha (the middle space), inner self, Ichchasakti, Yajur Veda, mid-day yaga, and the Deity Sadasiva.
The third line represents Ahavaniya fire, Makara, Tamas, Dyuloka (heaven) the Supreme Self, Jnanasakti, Samaveda, the third yaga, and the Deity Mahadeva.
Additionally, this is how Swami Sivananda interprets Tripundra in his book Lord Siva and His Worship.
He wears three white-lined Bhasma or Vibhuti on His forehead. What is the significance of this? He teaches silently that people should destroy the three impurities, viz., Anava (egoism), Karma (action with expectation of fruits), and Maya (illusion), and the three desires or Eshanas, viz., desire for landed property, desire for woman, desire for gold, and the three Vasanas, viz., Lokavasana, Dehavasana and Sastravasana, and then attain Him with a pure heart.