19. Rules relating to the Tripuṇḍra

The three parallel lines of the Tripuṇḍra are of the character of Brahmā (the creator), Viṣṇu and Śiva, one should wear the Tripuṇḍra, taking the ashes with the three middle fingers, uttering the Mūla Mantra, “Namaḥ Śivāya”; or the Tripuṇḍra mark could also be made with the ring finger, the middle finger and the thumb. It has been said that the Twice born should sprinkle ashes over the face and Kṣatriya over the head.

[...] Bṛhajjābāla Upaniṣad IV.16

Then should he affix the Tripuṇḍra mark either over the thirty two places or over one half of that number, viz., sixteen places or over eight places or over five places. The best of these alternatives is the wearing of the mark over the following thirty two places: the topmost part of the body (i.e., the head), the forehead, the two ears, the two eyes, the nose, the mouth, the throat and neck, the two shoulders, then the two elbows, the two wrists, the chest, the two sides, the navel, the two secret parts (the anus and the genitals), the two thighs, the glutted rounds and the knees, the two shanks and the two feet; the knower should wear the Tripuṇḍra, uttering the names of the following as Mantras, the eight Mūrtis (Śikhaṇḍi, Śrīkaṇṭha and others), the lords of the eight Vidyās, (Śiva, Uttama and others), the eight guardians of the cardinal points (Indra, Agni and others), and the eight Vasus; Dhara, Dhruva, Soma, Kṛpa, Anila, Anala, Pratyūṣa and Prabhāsa, these are said to be the eight Vasus.

[...] Bṛhajjābāla Upaniṣad IV.21

One should, with great composure, place the Tripuṇḍra mark over the following sixteen places, the head, the forehead, the throat and the neck on either side, the two shoulders, the elbows, the wrists, the chest, the navel, the two sides and one mark over the back, and should utter as Mantras the names of their presiding deities, the Śiva Śakti named Sādā, the Īśa, named Vidyā, the nine Śaktīs, Vāma and others, the two Nāsatyas, Dastraka and the two Aśvins, that are said to be the sixteen deities. Or, over the head, the forehead, the two ears, the nose, the two arms, the chest, the navel, the two thighs, the two knees, the two feet and the back, over these sixteen places should the Tripuṇḍra be worn. The deities, Śiva, Indra, Rudra, Arka, Vighneśa, Viṣṇu, Śrīh, Hṛdayeśa, Prajāpati over the navel, Nāga, the Nāga-kanyās, the two Ṛṣikanyakas, the oceans over the two feet, and the Tīrthas over the back, are the deities established over the respective places. These are sixteen alternative places. The eight places are as follows: the place of the Parama-guru (Śiva) i.e the head, the forehead, the two ears thereafter, the two shoulders, the chest, and the navel will be eighth. Their deities are said to be Brahmā, the creator and the seven Ṛṣis. Or else, the head, the two arms, the chest and the navel, these five places men conversant with the real nature of Bhasma mention as the places over which the Tripuṇḍra should be worn. The votary of Śiva should make the Tripuṇḍra mark (with any one of the four alternative courses suggested) in accordance with exigencies and with due regard to place, time and other circumstances.^[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ibid IV. 13-31.