After the sacred lamp, before commencement of any ritual, besides the requirement of a bath etc, wearing of a mark on the forehead is perhaps one of the preliminary requirements. It is believed that this invokes a feeling of sanctity, and is also worn as a "raksha" ( a protection from evil) when it is in the form of a "prasad".
The entire body it is believed emnates energy in the form of electro-magnetic waves, more so the forehead, and particularly the area between the two eyebrows. This is the place of (a) memory and thinking, (b) The location of ajna chakra which is the seat of concentration of immense spiritual energy, (c) location of the third eye. Lord Shiva with this eye, is believed to have burnt "kama" ( all desires) to bhasma namely ashes.
Vibhuti means, splendour, might, exalted rank etc, and also means holy ash. Lord Agni, is the presiding diety of "ash". Hence ash from sacrificial fire ( Homam etc) is believed to be the holiest.
Wearing of this on the forehead thus symbolises (a) Sanctity (b) Raksha when taken from havan kund (c) a reminder of the resolve to rid of all desires in our path to self realisation, (d) a very holy ornament to wear, since the texts proclaim that the wearer of vibhuti is not to be touched by yama dhoots, and the soul of the body which withers goes to siva loka.
There are of course other marks which I am not covering here. Except to conclude, that when we do siva pooja or for that matter any other pooja, just before commencing the "aavahanam" part etc, one does "atma puja" which is a small prayer, which roughly translates to, "My body is the abode of all devas, salutations to them, by getting rid of my ignorance of "nirmalyam" ( Remains of my dual relationship with Him) I offer this puja with the consciousness of "I Am Him", and apply kumkum at the spot of ajna as described earlier. Red colour of Kumkum denotes spiritual energy.......
Hope guys, you like it....
Love Vichu
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