Vibhuti

(“power”) Name for the sacred ash with
which devotees (bhakta) of the god
Shiva mark their bodies, usually with
three horizontal lines (tripundra).
According to one interpretation, the
three lines represent the three prongs of
Shiva’s trident, according to another,
they symbolize Shiva’s third eye. Ash is
associated with Shiva in several different
contexts. On one hand, he is said to
smear his body with ashes from the cremation ground, which indicates his lack
of concern for all conventional distinctions between purity and impurity
(ashaucha); the ash could also symbolize Shiva’s destruction of Kama, the god
of love, who is burned to ash by Shiva’s
third eye. In earlier times vibhuti was
made from wood ash that had been sifted
through cloth until it was as fine as
748
Vetala
A pilgrim in Benares wears vibhuti markings,
which consist of three horizontal lines and
identify him as a devotee of the god Shiva.
talcum powder. This is still done today,
particularly by ascetics who usually use
the ash from a dhuni or smoldering
ascetic fire, which is believed to give the
ash a sacred quality; in modern times
vibhuti has become available in stores
that sell religious supplies.