Tripundra Dhaaran - Paapa Vimukti

Our generations are fascinated about Tripundram being just a religious symbol. There are in depth meanings of such a Tilak on a Seeker's Forehead

The very first mistake is the way it is applied.

Tripund isn't applied with dry Bhasm, it should be made wet and then applied in a prescribed manner with proper use of fingers and direction of application. Bhasm is collected from various sources
The most important ones mentioned in upanishats are 1. Yagnya Kund Bhasm 2. Bhasm made from Cow's Dung alone. A special agnihotram was perform to save the Bhasma after that for Dhaarana. A major mantra while applying bhasm is Mrutyunjaya Mantra
Dwijas have a very long process of applying the Tripundram along with their Sandhyavandanam. For commoners there are some basic rules people have to follow while applying Bhasm
Bhasm Applied in Morning - Should be mixed with water and applied
Bhasm Applied during Afternoon - Should be mixed with Chandan and Applied
Bhasm Applied during and after Pradosh - Should be applied Dry as such
Fingers to be used

1. 1st Finger Thumb
2. Middle Finger
3. Ring Finger

The 3 elements Agni, Akash and Prithvi Tatvas.
One should mix Bhasm with water pr Chandan or dry on left hand palm and then start reading shiva shlokas and then take the Bhasma with Thumb and draw a light line of Naama and take now bhasm with middle and ring finger and apply 2 lines from left to right by chanting Triyambakam
These 2 lines will be 1st and 3rd lines.Leave good gap in between., and now with thumb from right to left draw a line in between. This completes the Tripundram. No dots are applied on the Tripundra. A Chandan dot with kumkuma is applied in the Trikuti space between the eyebrows.
Tripund lines should not extend upto ends of eyes. It should remain only on phaala bhaga I.e Forehead. This process is well explained in kalagni Rudra Upanishad and Bhasma Jabala Upanishad.
1st line - Garhapatya (the sacred fire in a household kitchen)
A syllable of Om the Rajas guna
The Earth element
The External Atman
Kriyā  Shakti– The power of action, The Rigveda
The morning extraction of Soma rasa and The presiding Lord is Maheshvara
2nd Line - Dakshinagni (the holy fire lighted in the South for ancestors)
The sound U of Om the Sattva guna
The atmosphere element
The Inner Atman
Iccha Shakti – The power of will The Yajurveda
The midday extraction of Soma Rasa
The presiding lord is Sadasiva
3rd Line - Ahavaniya (the fire used for Homa)
The M syllable in Om the Tamas guna
The Svarga – heaven
The Paramatman (the highest Atman) (Parabhraman)
The Gnyaana Shakti - The power of perception
The Samaveda
The disk extraction of Soma rasa
The presiding lord is Shiva
Rules :

1. Wear Tripund after Bath
2. Turn towards East and Apply the Tripund
3. Do not wipe off Tripund on odd times of a day esp Apaharna
4. Gopi Chandana is best to mix with Bhasm during afternoon
5. Never wet the Bhasm in evenings
6. Never wear dry Bhasm during mornings
Dwijas have various mantras like panchabhrama mantras in Sandhyavandanam etc to wear the Tripund. Tripund represents more than this , the Tri - Triloka Bhu, Bhuva, suvaha. Tri Tapa - Bhoutikam, Deiveekam, Aadhyatmam. Trigunas and 3 duties of Nature Shrushti, Sthiti & Laya 🍀

More from Hindu Media Wiki

"Mantras without Initiation"

Mantras are science. Different types of mantras exist based on different Rishi's and Yogi's works.Mantras had enormous efforts in place.Rishis performed intense Tapasyas through which they realized the existence of them.


Sanaskritam is a very tricky language. It has beautiful placement of words and one needs good wisdom to understand the origin of it's placement and Tatparya. Mantras are segregated into various categories based on it's usage in Aachara. There are several acharas like Vedic, Vama

Kaula, Vaishnava, Madhwa etc. Different mantras require different level of repetitions to attain Sidhis or say the ability to use the mantra for said cause / mostly Loka Kalyana for large cases. There are many controversies regarding chanting a mantra with or without Guru.

It is purely a human specific in Kali Yug to decide, BUT as per shastras a Guru is required for initiating a person into intense mantras. This is for the good of the seeker and guru gets nothing except the satisfaction of transferring his Tapoh shakti into the shishya.

Vedically Mantra has to be used in a prescribed way and it has 3 to five major components of usage

Components of a Mantra
1. Rishi - Who Worked
2. Chandas - How it is spelled
3. Devata - Whom do we pray
4. Beeja - What is the source syllable
5. Shakti Tattva - Which is the type
Identifying Purpose of Our Birth - Atmakaraka

A human should be questioning self "Who am I and Why am I here" The answer to this is not an easily achievable one. It needs great efforts in place to identify the purpose of our birth.


Elders say life is a boon actually when we identify the purpose of it. To identify it all we need is a Guru. Now guru doesn't mean he / She should be initially only a yogi on path. During this journey we have various people we meet and various types of Gurus in various forms.

The journey itself is a Guru., it teaches us alot. The answer to identifying purpose of our life is starting a sadhna / Tapasya in life to clear all the blockages and build a guided path moving towards it. All we need to do is start it.

To start this path you dont need a Guru initially. Once you start Guru comes to u as per Yuga dharma when you are ready to accept the knowledge and energies from him.

One should Identify their chara Atmakaraka( The moving Significator of the Soul ) in the birth chart. Atma means the soul and karaka means the significator if the Soul's desire in the current birth. Every soul is born with unfinished desires to be achieved.
"Busy Life Daily Puja & Neivedyas"

People would always have several doubts on what to offer bhagwan in their daily puja. For some it will be a million dollar question of how to do an express puja yet a satisfying one.


Upachara - "उपचार"

Refers to the offerings and services made to Bhagwan as part of worship. In shastras there are a count of upachara pujas we do.

पांच उपचार पूजा - 5 Upacharas
षोडशोपचार पूजा - 16 "
चतुःषष्ट्युपचार पूजा - 64 "

Out of these panch is used for daily puja.


Some use 16 upachras who are well versed with the way of doing it Effortlessly and have abhishekam at home daily. 64 is exclusively for festivals and special vrat. One can choose to do 5 upacharas daily and finish your puja peacefully.

How to start your Puja ?

1. Shudhikaran & Aachaman
2. Bhootashudhi & Pranayam
3. Sankalp
4. Choice of Upachara Puja
5. Aarti
6. Pradakshina
7. Mantra Pushpam
8. Bhoomi Sashtanga/Panchanga Namaskaram

Major pujas steps one should ideally follow

Shudhikaran & Aachaman

After bath and dressing with (washed clothes only) should arrange their requirements for puja.
Take water separately for Aachaman and Puja. Water shouldn't be used from same paatra ideally. Perform Aachaman as per your practice & for beginners - YouTube

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