Tripundra

Tripundra (Sanskrit: त्रिपुण्ड्र tripuṇḍra "three marks") is a Hindu Shaivite tilaka, worn by Shaivas as an indication of their affiliation with Shiva. It is also one of the tilakas worn by Smarta Hindus.^[1] It consists of three horizontal lines (and sometimes a dot) on the forehead, usually made with sacred ash, and has spiritual meanings in the Shaivite traditions of Hinduism.^[2] The Vaishnava counterpart of this tilaka, consisting of vertical lines, is called the Urdhva Pundra.^[3]

^ "Tilak".
^ Rigopoulos 2013, pp. 182–183.
^ Lochtefeld 2002, p. 724.

[1] "Tilak".

[FOOTNOTERigopoulos2013182–183-2] Rigopoulos 2013, pp. 182–183.

[FOOTNOTELochtefeld2002724-3] Lochtefeld 2002, p. 724.

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