Digest Number 347

[Guest guest]

Dear BhAgavatAs,

 

Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is the significance

of the nAma that we VaishnavAs wear (12 of em in different places).

I have heard that it is the Bhagavad PAda and have even seen the nama drawn

with BhagavAn's pAda taking the place of the Nama.

 

If it is indeed BhagavadpAda, why are all the vigrahAs in all

the temples wearing their own pAda? I recently visited Srirangam

and the Bhattar there, said it was important to take note of the

Paaduka. Does it signify the NAma we wear?

 

Please shed some light on this.

 

Sri Hari Charanam

Sridharan

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Sridharan Srinivasan:

 

In answer to Your Question , Sri Vaishnavas

wear on their upper body 12 ThirumaNN Kaapu ,

while uttering the 12 ThirunAmams of the Lord

and invoke the Lord (AavAhanam) at those sites.

 

Swamy Desikan has blessed us with a Tamil Prabhandham

known as Panniru ThirunAmama to instruct us on this

anushtAnam . He decribes in this Prabhandham the color (hue)

of the 12 EmperumAns , their weapons, the directions that

preside over and the places in our body ,where they reside

in the form of PuNDram ( ThirumaNN Kaappu).

 

Here is a quick list:

 

(1)Kesavan : Golden Hue; Weapons: Four Chakrams in 4 hands;

Direction: East; Position : Forehead (neRRi).

 

The manthram to recite while adorning this

PuNDram on the forehead is:

 

"Chathusschakram NamasyAmi Kesavam Kanaka Prabham".

 

There are similar invocations for the rest of the 11

ThirumaNN SthAnams.

 

The name Keasvan has many meanings just as you indicated.

It means the slayer of the horse named Kesi in KrishNAvathAram;

one who has beautiful Kesam ( Curly , soft bluish-black

and beautiful hair as SourirAjan ; "Prasastha neela

KesathvAth Kesava:" is the defenition.

 

In DhvAdasa Naama SthOthram , the request to

Kesavan is to protect us in the front with His

chakram :

 

"PurasthAth Kesava: Paathu CHAKRI JaamBhUnatha prabha:"

This is a beautiful SthOthram , which glorifies

the 12 Naama Moorthis.

 

The wearing of the rest of the 11 ThirumaNN Kaapu

proceeds in the follwing order:

 

(2) NaarAyaNan: Blue Hue; Four Conches as Weapons;

Direction : West; PuNDra SthAanam: Over the Stomach at

the Center.

 

(3) Maadhavan: Indhra Neela color; Four Maces(Gadhai);

Directions ( Upper ); Chest center.

 

(4) Govindhan : Hue of Chandran;Weapons: Four Bows;

Direction: South; Inner neck /center.

 

(5) VishNu: Golden hue; Four ploughs;

Direction: West; Right side of Stomach.

 

(6)Madhusoodhanan: Hue of Lotus flower; Four pestles

(Ulakkai); Direction: South east; PuNDra SthAnam:

Right upper hand.

 

(7) Thrivikranman: Hue : Fire like; Weapon: Four Swaords;

Direction: South West; PunDRa SthAnam: Right side of Neck.

 

(8) Vaamanan: Hue like Baala Sooruan; Weapon: Four Vajrams;

Direction : North West; PuNDra SthAnam: Left side of Stomach.

 

(9) Sridharan: Hue like white Lotus; Weapon : four long

swords(PattAkkatthi);Direction: North east;

Location of PuNDram: Left Upper arm.

 

(10)HrushIkEsan: Color like Lightning ; Weapons: 4 Hammers;

Direction: Lower direction; Left side of the neck.

 

(11) PadmanAbhan: Hue Like Sooryan; Five weaons ( Chakram ,

Conch, Swaord, Bow and mace).Lower back.

 

(12) DhAmOdharan: Hue like rising Sun ( Pattuppoocchi);

Weapons: Four Nooses;Residence: Inside and outside of

the body; PuNDra SthAnam: Back of the neck.

 

Swamy Desikan Concludes this Prabhandham of Panniru

ThirunAmam with the following Phala Sruthi Paasuram:

 

Katthi Thiriyum KalaikaLai Vellum karutthil Vaitthup

Patthikku uRuthunai PANNIRU NAAMAM PAYILBAVARKKU

Mutthikku Moolam yenavE Mozhintha immUnRu Naankum

Titthikkum YengaL ThiruvatthiUrarai sErpavarkkE

 

(Meaning): These 12 Paasurams are delectable food for

BhAgavathAs , who seek refuge (Prapatthi) at

the sacred feet of our Lord VaradarAjan.They are

Parama BhOgyam ( most enjoyable ) for them .Those

who wish to conquer in debate the vainglorious and

egotistic scholars in debate and who who wish to enhance

their Bhagavath Bhakthi should recite and understand

the meaning of these 12 Paasurams and practise them

(put them into use during their PuNDra DhAranam ).Such

practise (anusandhAnam) will be root cause behind One's

Moksham .

 

I will answer your second question later.

V.Sadagopan

 

 

At 11:18 AM 6/14/01 -0500, you wrote:

>Dear BhAgavatAs,

>

>Pardon my ignorance, but what exactly is the significance

>of the nAma that we VaishnavAs wear (12 of em in different places).

>I have heard that it is the Bhagavad PAda and have even seen the nama drawn

>with BhagavAn's pAda taking the place of the Nama.

>

>If it is indeed BhagavadpAda, why are all the vigrahAs in all

>the temples wearing their own pAda? I recently visited Srirangam

>and the Bhattar there, said it was important to take note of the

>Paaduka. Does it signify the NAma we wear?

>

>Please shed some light on this.

>

>Sri Hari Charanam

>Sridharan

>

>

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>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

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