To steal the riches of Siva, to denounce Siva or his devotees, are the sins which can be washed out even by repentance.

'your Vaisnavt illusion, is delightfully restin under a banyan tree.

After bowing in reverence to other gods, a well as Visnu, who serve Siva, I am going t narrate the astonishing story of Siva- th Supreme Brahman.

Then observing the sports of Siva, whic captivates all, Sa, getting influenced with th illusion of Siva, felt surprised.

After refering to gist of all th upanisads, it has been decided that tripundra is immensely beneficial and should be applic over the body.

The thirty-two limbs include, heat forehead, both the ears, both the eyes, nose mouth, throat, both the hands, both th elbows, wrists, heart, ibs, navel, testicles thighs, ankles, knees, legs and feet which ar the best The fire, water, earth, win directions, Dikapalas and Vasus are th excellent places.

In case the Brahmanas, Ksatriyas, Sidra or the people mixed castes, widow children, girls, the cheats, Brahmacari householders, sanydsis (ascetics) and wome apply the ashes as well as the tripundra ove their bodies, and by so doing they would ge redeemed.

'The one who does not apply the ashes ove his body with devotion, he can never b redeemed from the world even after crores o births,

Sata said, "The ashes are believed (0 be two types. I shall now narrate the process 0 the same, which you should listen attentively.

On realising this, Siva, the eternal one understood that Sati had not believed hi words, then he, who was well-versed in th divine sports, said to her.

Starting from the centre of the eyebrow: one should draw tripundra upto the end both the eyebrows.

Narada said, "0 Brahma, O Destiny, lord f the people, 0 Immensely intelligent one, ou are benevolent to all, you have narrated ne excellent glory of $iva and the beautiful ati, which bestows benevolence.

Brahma said, 0. Excellent sage, yo lovingly listen from me, the story of Sati an Siva. Both of them sported always lik humans.

four-armed form. He fel: blissful at the sigh of your spotless form.

'The Brahmana, who denounces the ashes he could never be treated as @ Brahmana. H suffers in the hell tll the age of Brahma

knowingly or unknowingly, it burns in bot the cases, similarly the ashes applied over th body knowingly or unknowingly, purifies th person concerned.

This is all the sports of Siva. Because th ord is engaged in several sports. He is sagun es well as nirguna and same is the case wit Sal.

Siva said, "0 Goddess, in case you have n belief in my words then you can test Ram with your own wisdom.

person, tripundra over the forehead, even if h is born as a Candala, he is considered to be th best of all the varnas.

The eight Vasus are Dhara, Dhruva, Som water, wind, fre, day break and light

0 Excellent sage, according to a tradition it is stated by the wise people, that the grea goddess Sati had to face separation from he husband.

One of them is called maha-bhasma (ashe the great) and the other one is called Svalpa bhasma (short ash). Several types of ashes po together are called maha-bhasma.

'The one who applies ripundra over th body during the performing of Sraddha yajia, homa, balivaisvadeva as well as durin the time of the worship of the gods, b actually overpowers the death.

fingers, with inverted thumb are calle tripundra, carrying the ashes quite carefully i the three fingers, ripundra shoold be draw because it bestows the pleasure as well as th salvation.

0 58, 0 beloved one, you act in a way b which your confusion could be removed. I the meantime Siva went from that place an tested under the shade of a banyan tree

It is called of three types viz. Srauta smarta and the laukika. The ash known a svalpa-bhasma is also of three types.

metaphysics after making strenuous effort 'You are the undecaying great lord.

0 Excellent sage, otherwise, who else i competent enough to do that act. He alone i the supreme soul, Supreme Brahman and th Supreme ,

Listening to the words of Siva, I fel confused. O Rama, I therefore at hi command, have tested you.

places on earth, like the Ganga, the perso 'whose forehead is adored with tripundra, h is supposed 10 have taken bath in all thes holy places.

Those who do not use the ashes as well 2 Rudrtksa rosary, no one should accept eve the slightest food or water in the houses o such people. By consuming the food and wate of & householder, Vanaprasthi, Brahmacart 0 a person of mixed race, one cams the sins an goes to the hell. By taking food in the house of such people, the people of all the thre varnas, get purified with the reciting of th Gayarrt-mantra, while the ascetics ge purified with the reciting of omkdra mantra.

These are the head, forehead, neck, bot the shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hear navel, two sides, and the back. After applyin the rripundra over these limbs, ane shoul worship Asvantkumaras. Siva, Sakti, Rudra T a, Narada, and nine Saktis or goddesses lik Vama and others. These are said to be sixice gods, besides these Nasatya and Oasra hav been stated to be Advanikumaras.

Or otherwise Siva and Sakti, had sportive interest and all their relative activities woul be quite proper, because these activities wen based over the human behaviour or tradition.

"Those who denounce tripundra, they seem ike denouncing Siva. Those who decorate nemselves with tripundra, they actually carry iva with them.

0 Lord, these two persons appear to b grief stricken, because of their separation wh were wandering in the forest in 2 gloomy stat of mind? They were looking miserable.

tripundra quite faithfully, the noble deed performed by them bestow opposite reward.

In the sequence of three lines, there ar nine gods, who are lodged in all the limb; You listen to me carefully, I am going t describe the same.

Srauta and the smarta ashes are to be usc by Brahmanas. The Laukika-bhasma can b used by the people of the remaining varnas

seven crores of Mahamantras are there, i addition to the crores of mantras whic bestow the cternal emancipation or liberatio of Siva, O Muni vara, the mantras of othe gods also bestow many comforts to the peopl but all of them remain under his control. Bu

'The Brahmanas, the virtuous women, an the widows, should apply tripundra over thei foreheads. Similarly the peaple of all th asramas should apply ashes over the body because it removes all the sins and bestow moksa.

Or otherwise, the ashes should be applied wer sixteen limbs viz.: the head, hair, ears, ce, both the arms, heart, navel, both the highs, both the knees, feet and back. The ixteen places or gods include, Siva, moon, Rudra, Brahma, Ganesa, Visou.

O Sages, Sakti and [Sa always remain: together like the word and its meaning, they how could they be really separated?

Out of the two, the one having th complexion of the blue lotus flowers, looking at him, why did you fecl delighted like 4 devotee?

Even the serpent Ses, always sings bi glory but never feels exhausted. O Dear one he is the same lord Siva.

Akarais the domestic fire, bha is rajoguna

You tell me correctly. You remove the dout from me and by doing 50, welfare would soo be bestowed on you."

Then 58 who was forsaken by Siva, at the time of her father's yaj ia, ended her life in he father's yajiia because of the disrespect show by her father to Siva.

irth, remaining healthy. Afier enjoying al the omforts, he meets with a comfortable death.

1 shall take to the form of and then g to Rama, In case Rama is lord himself then h would understand everything otherwise not."

a noble way, he is relieved of sins and th grave sins.

The sages have allowed the ashes 10 b taken by the Brahmanas, only after th reciting of the mantras. There is a provisio that people of the all other varnas except th

A Brahmana, who has decorated his hea with tripundra, he has completed all th studies and has done everything.

0 Siva, 0 Master, you remove my doubt because it would not be proper for the maste 10 bow in reverence to the servant."

A person who punishes 8 person with hi head having been decorated with tripundra, h should be treated to have been born o Candala.

0 Great sage, the ashes which are preparc with burning of the cow-dung is called th Agreva-bhasma. This is the best stiff used fo 'making tripundra.

"The people who securing the ashes fron Sivagnt, apply it over the body by reciting 0 Traydyusaris mantra, he, with the touch of th said ashes, is relieved of all the sins.

The same Sati was reborn as Parva in th house of Himalaya. Then she again got bac}

Brahma said, "Thus listening to the word of 588, the eyes of Rama were blossomed. H remembered lord Siva, which increased th devotion of Siva in his heart.

The Brahmacaris, householders, anaprasthis, yatis, (sages) Brahmanas, Csatriyas, Vaisyes, Shdras, degraded people, r the fallen people, by using the ashes or ripundra, they get purified getting relieved of If the sins.

0 Sages, Mahadeva happens to be the go of the first time. The devotees of Siva, wh have received Sivadksa should know abou the same.

akasa (sky) is sattvaguna and the Vedas ar yajuh. Madhyandin is the Savana (the mid-da

Brahma said, "The goddess Sati is the ternal force, being Paramesvarl. Having been verpowered with the illusion of Siva, she put p this question.

Once, Siva, who is well versed in sports, ounted over Nandi with Sati, was roaming bout on earth. Afier roaming about on earth plo the seashore, he arrived in the Dandakaranya, where Siva- the lord of truthful neans and actions, pointed to 581, the beauty f the surroundings of the place.

Rama said, *0 Sat, salutation to you. rou speak out lovingly, where has Siva gone day? How could you arrive in the forest lone?

O Sage, 580 also did not return to Siva, vithou the permission of Rama. Highlighting he glory of Siva, Rama said to Sat.

He enjoys his stay with all the comforts in he places of Vidyadharas, Gandharvas and mmensely valorous Indra, besides the okapalas respectively.

Or otherwise, the people with wisdom hould collect the ashes after the performing f the homa. The ashes collected from other ypes of yajiias are also used for iripundra.

By reciting the mantra of Trayambaka, 8 aida, and with the reciting of Paicaksara anitra by the Sidras the ashes should be pplied over the body. Other people as well as he widows should also follow the procedure f the Sadras.

A Vanaprasiht, a girl and 2 person without aving received diksa should take their bath efore noon time with water. Thereafter they hould have bath in ashes.

tarting from Agni etc. should be recited, and chile doing so the ashes should be sozked in vater and applied over the body.

vith the white ashes over the head, he after his cath, achieves the place of eternal bras.

He enjoys all the comforts, the positions rajapatis and Brahma. He remains there upto he age of Brahma and enjoys the company of undreds of divine damsels.

Narada said, "O Disciple of Vispu, 0 rahma, 0 Possessor of great fortunes, kindly peak out the details of the story of Siva and iva who followed the worldly traditions.

There also, he enjoys all the comforts esides the pleasures of Visauloka and lives here upto the age of a hundred Brahmas,

is body daily, such a devotee of Siva chicves all the pleasures besides moksa.

Jabali, the great sage has explained the rocess of respectfully applying of the ashes ver the body with the reciting of the mantras 7 without it and the drawing of the iripundra ur the body.

Sota said, "Listening to these words of rama, Narada then enquired about the reatness of Siva and Siva."

Brahma said, "On hearing the words of ama, 580 was taken aback at that moment nd taking the words of Siva to be true felt hameful

rying for 1a, looking here and there.

Makara is the invoking fire. Paramauna is orm of tamoguna, jidna-sakti is Samaveda nd is the form of the third place of sacrifice.

Or otherwise (the ashes should be applied ver the) forehead, arms, heart, navel, the five mbs of the body.

Searching for her, he was confused and evoid of shame was asking about from he trees, and was filled with grief.

How was your son Siva humiliated? How id Satt end her life in the yajia of her father?

he slanting tripundra of Visnu, should not be orgotten by a person, desirous of moksa. This as been ordained by he Vedas.

udrdksa over the body, which provides the ighest merit and in case he is without ipundra then his life is of no consequence.

'Taking Rama to be the form of Visnu and everting (0 her original form of 580, devoting, cr mind at the feet of lord Siva, she elightfully said.

O Goddess, both of them were Rama and aksmana, the sons of king Dasaratha, having cen born in the solar race.

"This is the best form of the application of he ashes, which should be respected by the cople of all the varnas. Besides the above, ther people should slso apply sshes at the ommand of Siva.

"Lord $iva, accompanied with me and his ttendants, roaming over the entire carth has cached in this forest.

Having been born in the solar race, Rama he son of Dasaratha, elder brother of Bharata, led with grief and gloom, was seen by them.

Thus, getting purified daily offering alutation to the gods of the three lines, if a levotee applies tripundra over the body with levotion, he achieves all the pleasures as well 5 the salvation.

What happened thereafter? What did Siva thereafter? You kindly speak out the same, would like to listen to the same with utmost ith"

ic younger brother Laksmana- the carnation of the serpent Sesa, while the elder ne is Rama himself. He the complete form of isu and 5 incapable of being harassed.

ear to him than his life even. I consider this vent to be unprecedented,

In this way I have narrated the glory of 1ahatmya. This is the sacred of all the people nd it should be kept as a secret by you all.

vell as the ashes with devotion and faith ccomes adorable by humans, gods as well as ie danavas. Even if he commits the sins, ven then his soul remains purified

yrahmanas, Ksatriyas, Vaisyas, the people of nixed varnas, and those of the other lowers astes, applying over their bodies.

O Great sage, there are three lines of ripungra over the forehead or other parts of he body.

Siva, who is well-disposed towards his evotees had an audience with Rima who was roving in the other side of the forest uttering he word jaya (victory) for him,

Brahma said, "O Narada, you are the best f the sons as well as the learned people. You vingly listen to the story of Siva with other ages.

tripundra over tacir bodies, they cannot knoy about Siva in crores of births.

'The one who does not apply the ashes ove the body with faith and devotion, they ar surrounded by the sins. This has been reveal by the scriptures

0 Sages, a sinful person, and the one wh is jealous of all the creatures, is also enviou of the ashes and tripundra.

raised by Parvatl and Laksm every day. rh: sified: yk wg

of his sports alone. No one is at fault in thi case. Te is all pervading and inspires all.

vhite ashes, thrice a day, he getting relieved fall the sins, always remains happy with iva

vithout having a bath with the ashes. He can ccite the mantra appropriately by: applying, ne ashes and making a tripundra.

Siva at that point of time, found Rama with aksmana searching for his spouse Sita who ad been stolen away by Ravana.

Even the cruel, degraded, extremely sinful, f the grave as well as light sins, and the oolish person having fallen from grace, when ves in a country, applying the ashes over his ody, all the sacred places and the yajias also eside there.

vhere a person well-versed in the tattvas of

The immensely benevolent lord Siva, owed in reverence to Rima, wandering in the orest with Laksmana.

What is the use of speaking too much, th leamed people should always apply the ashe over their bodies, adore the finga as well a recite the six letter mantra.

'The glory of the application of the ashes i unknown completely even to Brahma, Visn. Rudra and other gods as well as the sages.

as well as the tradition of his race, in case h applies tripundra even once over his body then he is relieved of all the sins.

The people, who discarding the use of th ashes, engage themselves in other religiou deeds, they cannot achieve redemption fron the world, even in crores of births.

Sati said, "0 God of gods, O Supremy Brahman, 0 Lord of all, all the gods includin 'Hari and Brahms serve you

shes reciting the Paicabrahma-mantras. A arhmacart should apply the ashes reciting ne Tryanbaka mantra.

he Aghora-mantra. The Ascetics should apply shes and tripundra reciting omkara manira.

Paramesvara said, "O Goddess Sat, you sten to me lovingly. 1 am revealing before ou the factual position. There is no trick in it. Vith the influence of the boon, 1 offered my alutation to him with respect.

arpas and asramas he should apply ashes as ell as the tripundra with the feeling of ivohari (1 am Siva) A Sivayogr should apply shes, reciting the sana mantra,

"The particles of the dust, which stick to be

They, for the protection: of the noble people nd for our benefit, have incarnated on carth." hus speaking, Siva, the creator of the niverse kept quiet.

illage without the temple of Siva are to be lenounced. Disgrece 10 a person who has not dored Siva. Disgrace to the wisdom devoid f the refuge of Siva,

Brahma said, "The great goddess Sal, 2 the command of Siva, started thinking as t how the forest dweller Rama could be put 1 test?

Those who denounce Siva, who happens to the base of the three worlds, and also his ovotces who apply tripundra over their odies, they do so because of the fault of their ision because inspite of their being humans hey have been born like a person of the mixed aces, or pigs, demons, donkeys, dogs, jackals r the insects. They have been bom only to roceed to the hell.

woughous the day and night, they are unable 9 visualise them correctly. Can such people, purified with the reciting of Rudrastkta vith devotion? One has to face the pain of the ell even after talking to such people. No one hould talk about the repentance of such cople. In fact, those who denounce the cople, having applied the ashes and the ripundra over their bodies, they are big fools

Thus thinking, she, under the influence of lusion, of Siva, took to the form of Sita and. vent to Rama.

O Great sage, those who introduce tantri practices in Sivayajiia, decorating the head with upwards lakari or those havin embossed the conches, cakras, by heatin them in fire, such people have no right (to sa anything).

Out of such people, many are influence with the magic of the sages. They shoul apply the ashes after a considerable thought.

Why have you taken to this form, iscarding your own form? You kindly speak ut the reason for the same."

mix the ashes in the sandal paste, they ar quite right. An intelligent person, should som how apply ripundra over his body.

Especially the devotec of Siva, who applics he ashes over his body, is relieved of the sins ke killing of woman, cow, horse etc.

The stealing of other's riches, to keep licit relations with other's wives to denounce thers, to usurp other's fields, to torlure thers, to usurp the field with crop and the arden, to bum other's houses, ar to steal the ow, buflilo, gold, silver, sesamum, blanket ad other costumes, lo accept charities of bod, cereals, water and other things from the graded people, 10 enjoy the company of the sher women, a whore, wife of a Candala, the emale dancer, 10 cohabit with 2 woman in

0 Rama, I have come to realise that yo are Visnu. I have also witnessed you greatness. Though my doubt has bee removed, still O Intelligent one, you lister what intend to speak out to you.

ortunes, with a benevolent body, he is nounted over a divine plane and is served by he gods.

Then he reaching Sivaloks, geting nnumerable desires fulfilled, ultimately chieves Siva's Sayujya liberation. There is no

After going to toilet, one should take bat with water, thereafter one should have bat with ashes which are quite auspicious. B; bathing with the mantras, the sins are washe out and by having a bath with jan (knowledge) one achieves the highest place.

visiting all the holy places, the same merit 0 reward is achieved by a person who bathe himself with ashes.

'The bath with ashes is the biggest 1rtha One should have a bath in the Ganga daily

The bath, charities, meditation, and japam erformed by a Brahmana are of no onsequence, in case they are performed (by a srabmana), without the application of ripundra over the body.

O Sages, the devotees having Sivadiksa ould know that the god of the second line is ahesvara.

The god of the third line is Siva, which hould be known by the people having ivadiksa.

0 Sages, the gods of ] the limbs and their laces have been defined. Now you listen to he placed connected therewith,

wo places, or half of that-sixteen, or in eight vin five places.

Reciting their names, the learned peopl should apply tripundra or becoming careft tripundra. should be applied over sixice limbs

Laksmi in the heart, Siva in the navel, Naga damsels and both the rsi-damsels, then n the feet, the pithas or the seashore are the ixteen places. The eight places are further cing described.

Recturs, forehead, both the ears, both the houlders, heart and navel, are the eight laces.

Keeping in view, the time and the place,

He is the one who is always adored by lor Visnu, myself, all the sages, gods, mendicants Sanaka and other siddhas.

Listening to the words of Sati, lord Siva, ho was well-versed in the divine sports eplied to 53 smilingly."

Brahma and the seven Ryis are their gods. ) Great sages, this is what has been spoken by re people with wisdom well-versed in the use f ashes.