{{Short description|Hindu Shaivite tilaka}} {{italic title}} [[Image:Face of Parvati dancer.jpg|thumb|A Yakshagana dancer with tripundra on her forehead]] '''''Tripundra''''' ({{langx|sa|त्रिपुण्ड्र}} ''tripuṇḍra'' "three marks") is a Hindu Shaivite tilaka, worn by Shaivas as an indication of their affiliation with Shiva. It is also one of the tilakas worn by Smarta Hindus.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}} It consists of three horizontal lines (and sometimes a dot) on the forehead, usually made with sacred ash, and has spiritual meanings in the Shaivite traditions of Hinduism.{{sfn|Rigopoulos|2013|pp=182–183}} The Vaishnava counterpart of this tilaka, consisting of vertical lines, is called the Urdhva Pundra.{{sfn|Lochtefeld|2002|p=724}}
==History== [[File:Kalu Pande.jpg|thumb|Kaji Kalu Pande, Chief Minister and Army head of Gorkha Kingdom, with a Tripundra Tilaka|310x310px]] The practice is discussed in Hindu texts such as Bhasmajabala Upanishad, Brihajjabala Upanishad and Kalagni Rudra Upanishad.{{sfn|Klostermaier|1984|pp=131, 371}} 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, trayi Vedas, and three aspects of Shiva.{{Sfn|Deussen|1997|pp=789–790}}
==Usage and significance== 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.{{sfn|Rigopoulos|2013|pp=182–183}} These lines, states Antonio Rigopoulos, represent Shiva's threefold power of will (icchāśakti), knowledge (jñānaśakti), and action (kriyāśakti).{{sfn|Rigopoulos|2013|pp=182–183}} The Tripuṇḍra described in this and other Shaiva texts also symbolizes Shiva's trident (triśūla) and the divine triad of Brahmā, Vishnu, and Shiva.{{sfn|Rigopoulos|2013|pp=182–183}}
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, remains from yagya or sacrificial fire-wood 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, ''guna''s, worlds, types of ''atman'' (Soul), powers, Vedas, the time of extraction of the Vedic drink Soma, and Mahesvara (a form of Shiva).{{Sfn|Deussen|1997|p=790}}{{Sfn|Nene|1999}} {{multiple image | align = right | image1 = Sadhu Vârânasî.jpg | width1 = 185 | alt1 = | caption1 = A Shaiva Hindu with Tilaka (Tripundra) on his forehead.{{Sfn|Deussen|1997|pp=789–790}}{{sfn|Chatterjee|2003|pp=11, 42, 57–58}} | image2 = Gaze of a priest.JPG | width2 = 178 | alt2 = | caption2 = A Vaishnava Hindu with Tilaka (Urdhva Pundra).{{sfn|Lochtefeld|2002|p=724}} | direction = vertical }} *The first line is equated to ''Garhapatya'' (the sacred fire in a household kitchen), the ''A'' syllable of Om, the Rajas guna, the earth, the external Atman, ''Kriyā'' – the power of action, the ''Rigveda'', the morning extraction of Soma, and Maheshvara.{{Sfn|Deussen|1997|p=790}}{{Sfn|Nene|1999}} *The second streak of ash is a reminder of ''Dakshinagni'' (the holy fire lighted in the South for ancestors), the sound ''U'' of Om, Sattva guna, the atmosphere, the inner Atman, ''Iccha'' – the power of will, the ''Yajurveda'', midday Soma extraction, and Sadasiva.{{Sfn|Deussen|1997|p=790}}{{Sfn|Nene|1999}} *The third streak is the Ahavaniya (the fire used for Homa), the ''M'' syllable in Om, the Tamas guna, Svarga – heaven, the Paramatman – the highest Atman (Brahman), the power of perception, the ''Samaveda'', Soma extraction at dusk, and Shiva.{{Sfn|Deussen|1997|p=790}}{{Sfn|Nene|1999}}
The "Tri" in the word Tripundra signifies the Triguna – Satva, Raja and Tama; Triloka – Bhuhu, Bhuvaha, Suvaha; Tritapa – Bbhoutika, Daivika, Adhyatmika. Tripundra is also called as Bhasma or Vibhuti. Tripundra also signifies Prana or life force and the three responsibilities performed by Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva respectively. Brahma represents Creation, Vishnu denotes Sustenance and Shiva connotes Destruction. Thus Tripundra symbolises Holy Trinity of Hindu Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.indianscriptures.com/vedic-lifestyle/symbols/shaivite-tilak-tripundara|title=Hindu Scriptures | Vedic lifestyle, Scriptures, Vedas, Upanishads, Smrutis}}</ref> Tripundra Applying Tripundra on the forehead is termed as "Bhasma dharana". The word Bhasma means calcined ash. 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.{{citation needed|date=March 2016}}
==Regional nomenclature== Tripundra is called திருநீறு / ''Thiruneeru'' in Tamil and ತಿರುನಾಮ / ''Thirunama'' in Kannada. It is also known as Tripundraka.<ref>[http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?tinput=tripuNDraka&script=&direction=SE&link=yes त्रिपुण्ड्रक] Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Koeln University, Germany</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Hinduism}} *Vibhuti *Bindi *Tilaka *Paklei Namsa *Urdhva Pundra
== References == ===Citations=== {{Reflist}}
===Bibliography=== {{refbegin|2}} *{{cite book |last=Chatterjee |first=Gautam |year=2003 |title=Sacred Hindu Symbols |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-8170173977}} *{{cite book|last= Deussen|first=Paul| title=Sixty Upanishads of the Veda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XYepeIGUY0gC&pg=PA779|year= 1997|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-1467-7}} *{{cite book|first=Klaus K.|last=Klostermaier|title=Mythologies and Philosophies of Salvation in the Theistic Traditions of India|year=1984|publisher=Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press|isbn=978-0-88920-158-3}} *{{cite book |last=Kramrisch |first=Stella |title=The Presence of Śiva |url=https://archive.org/details/presenceofsiva0000kram|url-access=registration|year=1981 |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=Princeton, New Jersey |ref=none| isbn=978-8120804913 }} *{{cite book|last=Lochtefeld |first=James |year=2002 |chapter=Urdhvapundra |title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Vol. 2: N–Z |publisher=Rosen Publishing |isbn=978-0823931798}} *{{Cite web|url=https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_upanishhat/kaalaagni.pdf |title= कालाग्निरुद्रोपनिषत् (Kalagnirudra Upanishad)|access-date=28 January 2016| language = sa|last= Nene| first= Roopa| year= 1999 }} *{{cite book|last=Rigopoulos |first=Antonio |year=2013 |title=Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Volume 5 |publisher=Brill Academic |isbn=978-9004178960}} {{refend}} {{commons category|Tripundra}}
Category:Hindu symbols Category:Shaivism Category:Facial features