[V. Sadagopan: Copy of: ThirumaN]

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A lot of interesting comments have been made on The Vaishanavite wearing

ThirumaN, Ramunuja"s role in it, The differences in the shape of the ThirumaN

worn by the Thenkalai and Vadakalai sects , Smarthas/Vaishanvas worship of

Vishnu , Why ThirumaN is seen on the forehead of Archa Murthys in recent notes

of Prapatti Group members.

 

I will share my views on this : First of All , there is a lot of history to it.

Vangipuram Nambi , one of the 74 Simhasanaathipatis summarized Ramanuja"s views

on Sadaachaaaras regarding this practise and Swami Desilkan later elaborated

on this in his Saccharitra Raksha and linked the sources of his views to

Paarameshtya Samhita,Brahmaraatra Samhita et al. Other granthas like

Sacchaaritra Sudha Nidhi and the 800 page Monograph approved by the 44Th Jeeyar

of Ahobila Mutt known as "Sri Vaishanava Sadaachara Nirnayam" by Vidwan

Villivalam Krishna Dasa (Krishnamacharya) have detailed references to the

mantras that go with this daily observance , the right way to apply the

ThirumaN and other daily observances by Vaishanavites..

 

The Vaishnavite Paribhasha(colloquial) for wearing ThirumaN (Auspicious Clay)

is ThirumaN Kappu Saatal. The key word here seems to be Kaapu or Protection.

That protection is achieved thru the Lord"s weapons celebrated in Panchaayudha

Sthotram. Like Dig Bhandhanam before Mantra recitation, the request for

protection of the limbs of one body and protection from above, behind, sides etc

is a well known practise in Ahnikaas (Performance of Daily rituals

prescribed).Hence , ThirumaN Kappu can be viewed as a Kavacham , that confers

protection on the Vaishanavaas wearing that by invoking the weapons and the

power of the Lord. The freedom from fear of the ThirumaN kappu wearing

Vaishnavas referredto in Eswar's note relates to the Mahaviswasam of the Vishnu

Bhaktas in Lord"s protection from the three kinds of afflictions of life.

 

The 12 names associated with 12 Urdhva Pundarams have been elaborated upon by

Swami Desikan in his work known as "Panniru Thirunaamam" dedicated to the

celebration of the holy feet of Kanchi Perumaal.

 

Examples of that are:

 

Forehead, Presidng lord is Kesavan. His color is invoked as Golden. His weapons

are 4 Chakrams. The direction assigned to him is East.`

Centre Portion of Stomach, the next site to wear Urdhva Pundram has Sriman

Narayana as the presiding deity. His Color is visualized as Blue.His Weapons

are 4 Conches .The direction of protection offered by him is West.Thus it goes

on for the rest of the 10 Urdhva Pundram.

 

Incidentally, Urdhva Pundram is associate with Urdhva Rethas celebrated in the

Vedic Passage "Urdhva Retham virupaksham Viswaroopaya Nama:" Urdhva Pundaram is

also symbolic of Sattvika Guna by Lord Krishna In Bhagavat Gita (

Urdhvam Gacchanti Satttwasthaa:).Reference to this is from Naaradheeyam.In this

context, this souce says that the Vishnu Bhaktaas should not wear Tiryak

Pundram(cross , horizontal wearing of the Pundram) even as a playful matter.

Vishnu Dharmottaram establishes guidelines as to which finger to use in

applying ThirumaN. Pavitram wearing finger and the middle finger are taboo. One

should apply ThirumaN , while sitting. The Thirucchornam used must be

sanctified. Any vermillion paste wont do. The people , who have had Bharanyaasam

should wear the Yellow choornam and others the Vermillion version. The thirumaN

wearing has to have the White two lines and the Red line at the center, housing

the Divine coulpe, who are never seperated. The two white lines are like temple

for them. Lord Himself says that he andHis consort love to reside in the temple

created by the two broad white lines of ThirumaN. Narrow crowding of the two

lines are not desirable to him, In my other note, I will speculate on the

Neuroanatomical significance of the shape of the thirumaN and suggest a

reconciliation between the Tenkalai and Vadakalai versions of wearing the

ThirumaN.

 

On the Sampradhayam(tradion) side, there are number of mantras to create the

paste of clay with water in one"s palm.Nrsimha Beejam is to be drawn at the

center after completing the preparation of the paste.The Veda Mantras used in

the preparatory rituals are 7 in number.Panchopanishad Mantra,

Ashtaaksharam,Vishnu Shadakshara Mantram, Dwaadasaaksharam, Dwayam(Mantra

ratnam), Vishnu Gayatri are to be included in the appropriate phases of the

Pundram wearing ceremony. In between the 12 Names of the Lord to be recited at

the time of the decoration of the individual parts of the body, the 12 names of

Sri Devi are to be added.They are: Sriyayai nama:., Amrutothbhavaayayai Nama:,

Kamalaayayai Nama:,Chandra Sodharyayai nama:, Vishnupatnyayai nama:,

Vaishnavyayai nama:, Varaarohayayai nama:,Harivallabhyayai Nama: , Saarnginyayai

nama:, Devadevikaayayai nama:, Surasundaryayai nama:. Maha Lakshmyayai Nama:,

Sarvaabhishtapalapradhaayayai nama:. Guru vandanaams are also involved. I have

seen my grandfather take a minimum of 30 minutes to perform this ThirumaN

ceremony sitting at the abnk of Cauvery river after his morning bath. Even

today, we can see in the Toopul House Remains of Swami Desikan , the section,

where he sat and applied ThirumaN prior to his Abhigamana Araadhanas( Act of

Going near the Lord and His consort with Humility and reverence) prescribed by

Ramanuja in one of his nine works.

 

Sadagopan

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