{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/db/bk11ch15.htm","path":"hin/db/bk11ch15.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/db/bk11ch15.htm","text":"THE ELEVENTH BOOK\nChapter XV\nOn the rules of using the Tripundra and \u00dbrdhapundra marks\n1-10. N\u00e2r\u00e2yana said :-- Only the twice born are to take this Tripundra on the forehead and the other parts of the body after carefully purifying the ashes by the mantra Agniriti Bhasma, etc. The Br\u00e2hmans, Ksattriyas, and Vais\u2019yas are known as the twiceborn, (the Dv\u00eejas). So the Dv\u00eejas ought to take daily this Tripundra with great care. O Br\u00e2hmana! Those who are purified with the ceremony of the holy thread, are called the Dv\u00eejas. For these the taking of Tripundra as per S\u2019ruti is very necessary. Without taking this Vibh\u00fbti, any good work done is as it were not done. There is no doubt in this. Even the japam of G\u00e2yatr\u00ee is not well performed if this Bhasma be not used. O Best of Munis! The G\u00e2yatr\u00ee is the most important and the chief thing of the Br\u00e2hmanhood. But that is not advised if the Tripundra be not taken. O Munis! As long as the ashes\nborn of Agni are not applied on the forehead, one is not entitled to be initiated in the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee Mantra. O Br\u00e2hman! Unless ashes be applied on the forehead, no one will recognise you as a Br\u00e2hmana. For this reason I take this holding of the merit-giving Tripundra as the cause of the Br\u00e2hmanhood. I speak this verily unto you, that he is recognised as a Br\u00e2hmana and literary on whose forehead there is seen the white ashes purified by the mantra. He is entitled to the state of a Br\u00e2hmana who is naturally very eager to collect the ashes as he collects the invaluable gems and jewels.\n11-20. Those who are not naturally eager to collect the Bhasma as they are naturally eager to collect gems and jewel, are to be known as Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2las in some of their previous births. Those who are not naturally joyous in holding Tripundra, were verily Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2las in their previous births; this I tell you truly very truly.\nThose who eat roots and fruits without holding ashes go to the terrible hells. He who worships S\u2019iva without having Bibh\u00fbti on his forehead, that wretch is a S\u2019iva hater and goes to hell after his death. He who does not hold Bibh\u00fbti is not entitled to any religious act.\nWithout taking Bibh\u00fbti, if you make a gift of Tul\u00e2 Purusa made of gold, you won\u2019t get any fruits. Rather you will have to go to hell!\nAs the Br\u00e2hmanas are not to perform their Sandhy\u00e2s without their holy threads, so without this Bibh\u00fbti, one ought not also to perform one\u2019s Sandhy\u00e2.\nIf at times a man by chance has no holy thread, he can do his Sandhy\u00e2 by muttering the G\u00e2yatr\u00ee or by fasting. But there is no such rule in holding Bhasma.\nIf one performs Sandhy\u00e2, without having any Bibh\u00fbti, he is liable to incur a sin; as without holding this Bhasma, no right can come to him to perform his Sandhy\u00e2.\nAs a man of a lowest caste acts contrary and incurs a sin if he hears the Veda mantra, so a twice-born incurs a sin if he performs Sandhy\u00e2 without having his Tripundra. The twiceborn must therefore collect his thoughts with his heart intent on this Tripundra whether it be according to S\u2019rauta or Sm\u00e2rta method; or in absence thereof the Laukika Bhasma. Of whatsoever sort is the Bhasma, it is always pure. In the Sandhy\u00e2 and other actions of worship, the twiceborn ought to be very careful and punctilious in using this Bhasma.\n21-31. No sin can enter into the body of one besmeared with ashes. For this reason, the Br\u00e2hmanas ought always to use ashes with great care. One is to hold the Tripundra, six Angulas high or greater by the fore, middle and ring fingers of the right hand. If anybody uses Tripundra, shining and brilliant, and extending from eye to eye, he becomes, no doubt, a Rudra. The ring-finger is the letter \u201cA,\u201d the middle finger is \u201cU\u201d and the forefinger is \u201cM\u201d; so the Tripundra marks drawn by the above three fingers is of the nature of the three gunas. The Tripundra should be drawn by the middle, fore, and ring fingers in a reverse way (from the left of the forehead to its right). I will now tell you an anecdote, very ancient. Listen. Once Durv\u00e2s\u00e2, the head of the ascetics, with his body besmeared with ashes and with Rudr\u00e2ksam, all over, on his body went to the region of the Pitris, uttering loudly, \u201cO S\u2019ankara, of the Form of All! O S\u2019iva! O Mother Jagadambe, the Source of all auspiciousness!\u201d The Pitris Kavya-V\u00e2l\u00e2s, etc., (Kavya V\u00e2lanalah Somah Yamah schaiv\u00e2ryam\u00e2 Tath\u00e2, Agnisv\u00e2ttv\u00e2, Varhisadah, Somap\u00e2h Pitri Devat\u00e2h) got up, received him heartily and gave him seats and shewed him great honours and respect and held many pure conversations with the Muni. During their talk, the sinners of the Kumbh\u00eep\u00e2ka hell were crying, \u201cOh! Alas! We are killed, we are being killed. Oh! We are being burnt!\u201d some others cried, \u201cOh! Oh! We are cut down.\u201d Thus various cries and lamentations reached their ears.\n32-40. Hearing their piteous cries, Durv\u00e2s\u00e2, the prince of the Risis, asked with a grievous heart the Pitris, \u201cWho are those crying?\u201d The Pitris replied :-- There is a city close to our place called \u201cSamyaman\u00ee Pur\u00ee\u201d of the King Yama where the sinners are punished. Yama gives punishment to the sinners there. O Sinless One! In that city the King Yama lives with his terrible black-coloured messengers, the personifications of K\u00e2la (the Destruction). For the punishment of the sinners, eighty-six hells exist there. The place is being guarded always by the horrible messengers of Yama. Out of those hells, the hell named Kumbh\u00eep\u00e2ka is very big and that is the chief of the hells. The ailings and torments of the sinners in the Kumbh\u00eep\u00e2ka hell cannot be described in hundred years. O Muni! The S\u2019iva-haters, the Visnu-haters, the Dev\u00ee-haters are made to fall to this Kunda. Those who find fault with the Vedas, and blame the Sun, Ganes\u2019a and tyrannise the Br\u00e2hmanas fall down to this hell. Those who blame their mothers, fathers, Gurus, elder brothers, the Smritis and Pur\u00e2nas and those as well who take the Tapta Mudr\u00e2s (hot marks on their bodies) and\nTapta S\u2019\u00fblas (i.e., those who being S\u2019aivas act as they like) those who blame the religion (Dharma) go down to that hell.\n41-50. We hear constantly their loud piteous cries, very painful to hear; hearing which naturally gives rise to feelings of indifference (Vair\u00e2gyam). Hearing the above words of the Pitris, Durv\u00e2s\u00e2, the prince of the Munis, went to the hell to see the sinners. O Muni! Going there, the Muni bent his head downwards and saw the sinners when, instantly the sinners began to enjoy pleasures more than those who enjoy in the Heavens. The sinners became exceedingly glad. Some began to sing, some began to dance, some began to laugh; some sinners began to play one with one another in great ecstasy. The musical instruments Mridanga, Muraja, lute, Dhakk\u00e2, Dundubhis, etc., resounded with sweet sonorous tones (in accordance with five resonants). The sweet fragrant smell of the flowers of V\u00e2santi creepers spread all round. Durv\u00e2s\u00e2 Muni became surprised to see all this. The messengers of Yama were startled and immediately went to their King Yama and said :-- \u201cO Lord! Our King! A wondrous event occurred lately. The sinners in the Kumbh\u00eep\u00e2ka hell are now enjoying pleasures more than those in the Heavens. O Bibhu! How can this take place! We cannot make out the cause of this. O Deva! We all have become terrified and have come to you.\u201d Hearing the words of the messengers, Dharmar\u00e2ja, mounting on his great buffalo, came there instantly and seeing the state of the sinners sent news immediately to the Heavens.\n51-60. Hearing the news Indra came there with all the Devas, Brahm\u00e2 came there from His Brahmaloka; and N\u00e2r\u00e2yana came there from Vaikuntha. Hearing this, the regents of the quarters, the Dikp\u00e2las came there with all their attendants from their respective abodes. They all came there to the Kumbh\u00eep\u00e2ka hell and saw that all the beings there are enjoying greater pleasures than those in the Heavens. They all were astonished to see this; and they could not make out why this had happened. \u201cWhat a wonder is this! This Kunda has been built for the punishment of the sinners. When such a pleasure is now being felt here, the people won\u2019t fear anything henceforth to commit sins. Why is this order of the Vedas created by God reversed? Why has God undone His own doing? What a wonder is this! Now a great miracle is before our sight.\u201d Thus speaking, they remained at a fix. They could not make out the cause of this. In the meanwhile Bhagav\u00e2n N\u00e2r\u00e2yana after consulting with the other Devas went with some Devas to the abode of\nS\u2019ankara in Kail\u00e2s\u2019a. They saw there that S\u2019r\u00ee Bhagav\u00e2n S\u2019ankara (with crescent of the Moon on His forehead) was playing there attended always by the Pramathas and adorned with various ornaments like a youth, sixteen years old. His parts of the body were very beautiful as if the mine of loveliness. He was conversing on various delightful subjects with His consort P\u00e2rvat\u00ee and pleasing Her mind. The four Vedas were there personified. Seeing Him, N\u00e2r\u00e2yana bowed down and informed him clearly of all the wonderful events. He said :--\n61-75. \u201cO Deva! What is the cause of all this? We cannot make out anything! O Lord! Thou art omniscient. Thou knowest everything. So kindly mention how is this brought about!\u201d Hearing Visnu\u2019s words. Bhagav\u00e2n S\u2019ankara spoke graciously in sweet words, grave as the rumbling of a rain-cloud :-- \u201cO Visnu! Hear the cause of this. What wonder is there? This is all due to the greatness of Bhasma (ashes)! What cannot be brought about by Bhasma! The great S\u2019aiva Durv\u00e2s\u00e2 went to see the Kumbh\u00eep\u00e2ka hell, besmearing his whole body with Bhasma and looked downwards while he was looking at the sinners. At that time, accidentally a particle of Bhasma from his forehead was blown by air to the bodies of the sinners in the hell. Thereby they were freed of their sins and they got so much pleasure! Such is the greatness of Bhasma! Henceforth the Kumbh\u00eep\u00e2ka will no more be a hell. It will be a T\u00eertha (holy place of pilgrimage) of the residents of the Pitrilokas. Whoever will bathe there will be very happy. There is no doubt in this. Its name will be henceforth the Pitri T\u00eertha.\nO Sattama! My Lingam and the form of Bhagavat\u00ee ought to be placed there. The inhabitants of the Pitri Loka would worship them. This will be the best of all the T\u00eerthas extant in the three Lokas. And if the Pitris\u2019var\u00ee there be worshipped, know that the worship of the Trilok\u00ee is done. N\u00e2r\u00e2yana said :-- Hearing thus the words of S\u2019ankara, the Deva of the Devas, He thanked Him and, taking His permission came to the Devas and informed them of everything what S\u2019ankara had said. Hearing this, the Devas nodded their heads and said, \u201cSadhu (well, very well)\u201d and began to glorify the greatness of Bhasma. O Tormenter of the enemies! Hari, Brahm\u00e2 and the other Devas began to eulogise the glories of ashes. The Pitris became very glad to get a new T\u00eertha. The Devas planted a S\u2019iva Lingam and the form of the Dev\u00ee on the banks of the new T\u00eertha, and began to worship them regularly day by day. The sinners that were there suffering, all ascended on the celestial chariot and got up to Kail\u00e2s\u2019a. Even today they are\nall dwelling in Kail\u00e2s\u2019a and are known by the name of the Bhadras. The hell Kumbh\u00eep\u00e2ka came to be built afterwards in another place.\n76-84. Since that day the Devas did not allow any other devotee of S\u2019iva to go to the newly created hell Kumbh\u00eep\u00e2ka. Thus I have described to you the excellent greatness of the Bhasma. O Muni! What more can there be than the glories of the Bhasma! O Best of Munis! Now I am telling you of the usage of \u00dbrdhapundra (the vertical marks) according to the proper province of the devotees. Listen. I will now speak what I have ascertained from the study of the Vaisnava S\u2019\u00e2stras, the measure of \u00dbrdhapundra, according to the Anguli measurements, the colour, mantra, Devat\u00e2 and the fruits thereof. Hear. The earth required is to be seen red from the crests of hills, the banks of the rivers, the place of S\u2019iva (S\u2019iva Ksettram), the ocean beaches, the ant-hill, or from the roots of the Tulas\u00ee plants. The earth is not to be had from any other places. The black coloured earth brings in peace, the red-colour earth brings in powers to bring another to one\u2019s control; the yellow-coloured earth increases prosperity and the white-coloured earth gives Dharma (religion). If the \u00dbrdhapundra be drawn by the thumb, nourishment is obtained; if it be drawn by the middle finger, longevity is increased; if it be drawn by nameless or ring finger, food is obtained and if it be drawn by the fore finger, liberation is attained. So the \u00dbrdhapundras ought to be drawn by these fingers, only be careful to see that the nails do not touch at the time of making the mark. The shape of the \u00dbrdhapundra (the vertical mark or sign on the fore-head) is like a flame or like the opening bud of a lotus, or like the leaf of a bamboo, or like a fish, or like a tortoise or like a conch-shell.\n85-95. The \u00dbrdhapundra, ten Angulis high is the super best; nine Angulis high, is best; eight Angulis high, is good; the middling \u00dbrdhapundra is of three kinds as it is of seven Angulas, six Angulas, or five Angulas. The lowest \u00dbrdhapundra is again of three kinds as it is four Angulas, three Angulas or two Angulas high. On the \u00dbrdhapundra of the forehead, you must meditate Kes\u2019ava, on the belly you must think of N\u00e2r\u00e2yana; on the heart, you must meditate on M\u00e2dhava; and on the neck, you must meditate on Govinda. So on the right side of the belly, you must meditate on Madh\u00fbs\u00fbdana; on the roots of the ears, on Trivikrama; on the left belly, on V\u00e2mana; on the arms, on S\u2019r\u00eedhara; on the ears, Hris\u00eekes\u2019a; on the back, Padman\u00e2bha; on the shoulders D\u00e2modara; and on the head Brahmarandhra you must meditate on V\u00e2sudeva. Thus the twelve\nnames are to be meditated. In the morning or in the evening time when you are going to make the P\u00fbj\u00e2 or Homa, you are to take duly, single-in-intent, the above names and make the marks of \u00dbrdhapundras. Any man, with \u00dbrdhapundra on his head, is always pure, whether he be impure, or of unrighteous conduct or whether he commits a sin mentally. Wherever he dies, he comes to My Abode even if he be of a Ch\u00e2nd\u00e2la caste. My devotees ( V\u00eera Vaisnavas or Mah\u00e2v\u00eera Vaisnavas) who know My Nature must keep an empty space between the two lines of \u00dbrdhapundra of the form of the Visnupada (the feet of Visnu) and those who are my best devotees are to use nice \u00dbrdhapundras, made of turmeric powder, of the size of a spear (S\u2019\u00fbla), of the form of the feet of Visnu (Visnu padah).\n96. The ordinary Vaisnavas are to use with Bhakti, the \u00dbrdhapundras without any empty space, but the form of it is to be like a flame, the blossom of a lily or like a bamboo leaf.\n97-110. Those who are Vaisnavas in name only can use \u00dbrdhapundra of both the kinds, with or without any empty space. They incur no sin if they use one without an empty space. But those who are My good devotees, incur sin if they do not keep an empty space between the two vertical lines (in the \u00dbrdhapundra three vertical lines are used). The Vaisnavas who use excellent vertical rod like \u00dbrdhapundras keeping an empty space in the middle and uttering the mantra \u201cKesv\u00e2ya Namah\u201d build My Temple there. In the beautiful middle space of \u00dbrdhapundra, the Undecaying Visnu is playing with Laksm\u00ee. That wretch, the twice-born who uses \u00dbrdhapundra without any empty apace kills Visnu and Laksm\u00ee, seated there. The stupid who uses \u00dbrdhapundra without a vacant space goes successively to twenty-one hells. The \u00dbrdhapundra should be of the size of a clear straight rod, lotus, flame, a fish with sharp straight edges and with vacant spaces between them. O Great Muni! The Br\u00e2hmana should always use the Tripundra like the lock of hair on the crown of his head and like his Sacrificial thread; otherwise all his actions will be fruitless. Therefore in all ceremonies and actions the Br\u00e2hmanas ought to use \u00dbrdhapundras of the form of a trident, a circle or of a square form. The Br\u00e2hmana who knows the Vedas is never to use the semi-moonlike mark (Tilak) on his bead. The man who is of the Br\u00e2hmin caste and follows the path of the Vedas should not even by mistake use any other mark than those above-mentioned. Other sorts of pundras (marks) that are mentioned in other Vaisnava S\u2019\u00e2stras for the attainment of fame, beauty, etc., the Veda-knowing Br\u00e2hmanas should not use them. The Vaidik Br\u00e2hmanas should not use even in error any other Tilaks than the curved Tripundras\n1098}\nIf, out of delusion, the man, following the path of the Vedas, uses other sorts of Tripundras, he would certainly go down to hell.\n111-118. The Veda-knowing Br\u00e2hmanas would certainly go down to hell if they use other sorts of Tripundras on their bodies. Only the Tilakas, prescribed in the Vedas ought to be used by those who are devoted to the Vedas. Those who do not observe the duties of the Vedas would use Tilaks approved of by other S\u2019\u00e2stras. Those should use marks approved of by the Vedas whose Deity is that of the Vedas. Those who follow the Tantra S\u2019\u00e2stras different from the Vedas, should use marks approved of by the Tantras.\nMah\u00e2 Deva is the Veda\u2019s Deity and, ready to deliver from the bondages of the world, He has prescribed the Tilakas prescribed in the Vedas for the benefit of the devotees. The marks prescribed by Visnu, also a Deity of the Vedas, are also those of the Vedas. His other Avataras also use marks approved of by the Vedas. The Tripundras and the besmearing of the body with ashes are according to the Vedas. In the Tantra S\u2019\u00e2stra different from the Vedas, there is the usage of Tripundra and other marks. But they are not to be used by the Vaidiks. No never.\nThose who follow the path of the Vedas should use the curved Tripundras and Bhasma on their foreheads according to the rules prescribed in the Vedas.\nHe who has obtained the highest state of N\u00e2r\u00e2yana, i.e., who has realised My Nature, ought to use always on their foreheads S\u2019\u00fbla marks scented with fragrant sandalpaste.\nHere ends the Fifteenth Chapter of the Eleventh Book on the rules of using the Tripundra and \u00dbrdhapundra marks in the Mah\u00e2pur\u00e2nam S\u2019r\u00ee Mad Dev\u00ee Bh\u00e2gavatam of 18,000 verses by Maharsi Veda Vy\u00e2sa.","title":"The Devi Bhagavatam: The Eleventh Book: Chapter 15","type":"page"}