||Om Nama: Shivaya||

Chapter – 39 – Vindhyeshwara Samhitha – 24 -2

Bhramana: Kshathriya Vaishya: Shudrashchapi Cha Shankara: | Sthreeyoatha Vidhava Bala: Praptha: Pakhandikasthatha|| Bhramachari Grihi Vanya: Sanyasi Va Vrathi Thatha | Narya Bhasma Thripundrangaka Muktha Yevana  Samshaya: ||

Sutha Pauranika speaks “Oh! Shaunaka,  listen to me carefully, Bhramanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishya, Sudhras, females, widows, children, Pankhandi, Brahmachari, Grihasthashrami, Vanashrami, Sanyasi, Vrathi, etc. who are smeared in sacred ashes get liberated with the grace of supreme Lord Mahadeva like the fire touched knowingly or unknowingly will have the same effect, the sacred ash smeared on the body of a person gets purified instantly.  Oh! Munisaththama, the food received as alms, or consumed a meal from the house of a Bhramachari, or Grihasthashrami, or Vanaprastha who does not apply sacred ashes or wear Rudraksha is considered as a grave sin, it would push the receiver into hell.  In case, if the twice-born happened to take a meal from those houses, should recite the Gayathri Manthra and get themselves purified, ascetics recites Omkara Manthra and gets themselves purified. Whoever refuses to adore Thripundra, are disrespecting Lord Shiva, whoever adorns the Thripundra is carrying the supreme Lord Mahadeva with them.  The person without a Thripundra and a village without the shrine of Lord Shiva should be discarded forever. The person who refuses to smear ashes brings disgrace to him/her,   and disgrace to their wisdom as well.  The supreme Lord Mahadeva is Jagath Adharabhootham who is the cause of the Universe and its living beings, disrespecting Lord Shiva would push the person to hell and causes to take several births as animals, even after all these they will remain ignorant who cannot understand the disparities between sun and moon, even conversing with them would bring sins.  Oh! Mune, there is no atonement available to the sins for the people who adorn Thripundra but no belief or faith in Lord Mahadeva. Oh! Mune, people who adorn in Urdhvapundra, conch,  and Chakra, should not engage in Tantric practices of Shivagnana. The Tantric practices should be carried out after smearing the sacred ashes followed the prescribed rules in the Jabala Upanishad. The usage of sandalwood paste and sacred ashes are perfectly right, an intelligent one adores Tripundra. The Bhramin/twice-born, chaste women, widows can apply Tripundra on their foreheads, people of the all the Varna can apply Tripundra, it removes sins and provides Moksha. The smearing of ashes as Tripundra removes even the grave sins.  The Brahmachari, householders/Grihashrami, Vanaprastha, Yathi, twice-born, Sages, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra, and all classes of people can wear Tripundra, to get rid of their sins. The devotees of Lord Mahadeva who smear ashes all over the body would get relieved from the grave sins like killing of women, Go/cows, warriors, horses, etc. Oh! Mune, The smearing of sacred ashes all over the body would remove sins like stealing the wealth of others, illicit relationships, abduction or possession of others land or garden, etc. creating hurdles or troubles to others, set fire to others homes, stealing of cow, buffalo, gold, silver, sesames, blankets, clothes, etc. The smearing of sacred ashes as Tripundra would remove the sins of acceptance of meal from the degraded people, it would remove the sins of living in the company of degraded people, living with the whore, Chandala, fishermen or women, dancers, prostitutes, young maiden, married women, or widow, people who engage in speaking ill of others, false witnesses, like these numerous sins would get destroyed with the smearing of sacred ashes all over the body.  Oh! Mahamune, there is no atonement for the sin of stealing the wealth of Lord Mahadeva or the devotees of Lord Mahadeva. The person who is adorned in Rudraksha and smeared in Tripundra would be considered as pure and best even though he was born as Chandala.  The smearing of sacred ashes all over the body would give the piousness of holy dip in all the Theerthas. Oh! Mune, there are several sacred hymns like Panchakshara, and Mahamanthras which could provide liberation to the worshiper. The recitation of glorious chants and Mahamanthras provides all the earthly comforts, smearing the sacred ashes as Tripundra would redeem thousands of ancestors and successors as well.  The smearing of sacred ashes as Tripundra provides mental as well as physical health, long life, a comfortable life, and finally, the Jeeva leaves the mortal coil in utmost peace. After the death the Jeeva would attain the marvelous body and heavenly pleasures, lives in the comforts of Vidhyadhara, Gandharvas, Lord indra, and Lokapalas, he enjoys the status of Prajapathi and Bhrama, and lives in the association of deities. The Jeeva attain the pleasures of Vishnu Loka, and Shivaloka ultimately attains Shivasayujya.  Oh! Mahamune, the scriptures describe commendable virtues of the application of sacred ashes all over the body. The twice-born who refuses to adore sacred ashes, will not consider as a Bhramin, after death, they will live in the hell until the completion of the age of Lord Bhrama.  The person who adores the sacred ashes as Thripundra during the Shradhdha, Yajjna, Homa, Vaishvadeva, Surarchana, would consider as highly meritorious, win over the accidental or untimely death.”