Tripundra

A Shaiva sadhu with the tripundra on his forehead.
A Yakshagana dancer with tripundra on her forehead

Tripundra (Sanskrit: त्रिपुण्ड्र tripuṇḍra "three marks") or பட்டை / Pattai in Tamil is a Saivite tilaka, and a body art with origins in South Asia. It consists of three lines and usually a dot smeared with sacred ashes, and has spiritual meaning.

The practice is discussed in medieval era Hindu texts such as Bhasmajabala Upanishad, Brihajjabala Upanishad and Kalagni Rudra Upanishad.[1] The allegorical significance of the "three ash lines", states Deussen, is that the tradition sees them as streaks of three Vedic fires, three audible syllables of AUM, three Guṇas, three worlds, three Atmans, three Vedas and three aspects of Shiva.[2][3]

The Tripuṇḍra, three horizontal lines, on the forehead as well as other body parts are symbols during rites of passages, and for some a daily practice.[4] These lines, states Antonio Rigopoulos, represent Shiva’s threefold power of will (icchāśakti), knowledge (jñānaśakti), and action (kriyāśakti).[4] The Tripuṇḍra described in this and other Shaiva texts also symbolizes Shiva’s trident (triśūla) and the divine triad of Brahmā, Vishnu, and Shiva.[4]

Tripundra, to those who apply it, is a reminder of the spiritual aims of life, the truth that body and material things shall someday become ash, and that mukti is a worthy goal. Tri means three, pundra means one which is released. There are three horizontal lines of vibhuti (holy ash) on the brow, often with a dot (bindu) as the third eye. Holy ash, usually produced from burnt cow dung, is a reminder of the temporary nature of the physical body and the importance of spiritual attainment and closeness to Shiva (Atman-Brahman). Chapter 2 of Kalagni Rudra Upanishad explains the three lines as various triads: sacred fires, syllables of Om, gunas, worlds, types of atman (Soul), powers, Vedas, the time of extraction of the Vedic drink Soma, and Mahesvara (a form of Shiva).[5][6]

The "Tri" in the word Tripundra signifies the Triguna – Satva, Raja and Tama; Triloka – Bhuhu, Bhuvaha, Suvaha; Tritapa – Bbhoutika, Daivika, Adhyatmika. Pundara is derived from the word Pundarika, which is one of the names Lord Vishnu. Pundarika also often refers to a lotus. Tripundra is also called as Bhasma or Vibhuti. Applying Tripundra on the forehead is termed as "Bhasma dharana". The word Bhasma means calcined ash. the ash has lost its original shape, size, color, fragrance, karma all and burned for the sake of someone and gave light, heat, food by burning its own physical body.

Those who wear Tripundra on their forehead, often recite the mantras of the Lord while remembering its spiritual meaning and it is not just a sign of culture or identification. Tripundra signifies the wearer to elevate his understandings and learn to sacrifice for attainment of peaceful life.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Klostermaier, Klaus K. (1984). Mythologies and Philosophies of Salvation in the Theistic Traditions of India. Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. pp. 131,371. ISBN 978-0-88920-158-3.
  2. ↑ Deussen 1997, pp. 789–790.
  3. ↑ Deussen, Paul (1997). Sixty Upanishads of the Veda. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 789–790. ISBN 978-81-208-1467-7.
  4. 1 2 3 Antonio Rigopoulos (2013), Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Volume 5, Brill Academic, ISBN 978-9004178960, pages 182-183
  5. 1 2 3 4 Deussen 1997, p. 790.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Nene 1999.

Bibliography

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