Urdhva puNdram- (reply to : Significance of Naamam)

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Sri:

SrImathE Gopaladesika mahadesikaya namah:

Dearest Srivaishnavas,

 

There was a query on Signififcance of Naamam (ThirumaN kappu) on forheads:

ThirumaN kappu- is called "Urdhva puNdram-Urdhva - vertical; puNdram-

mark..

It has been widely discussed and can be found in archives.

 

Swamy Desikan explains the saasthra pramANam of the same in crystal clear

terms in His

Saccharitharaksha, which is divided into three parts with the titles:

 

SudharsanapaanchajanyadhAranavidhi

UrdhvapuNdra dhAraNa vidhi

BhagavannivEdhithOpAyOga vidhi

 

Swamy Desikan starts the Sacharitharaksha which establishes the absolute

and prime need of Pancha samskaram:

 

(meaning of 1st sloka): Let us carry the people on our head who bear the

mark of Sudharsana and Paanchajanya;

who wear the UrdhvapuNdra (ThirumaN kaappu) on forheads; who consume only

the food offered to the Lord and by virtue of the

above who are saluted even by NithyasUris.

 

All of us have these doubts as to where the saasthRAs says that one should

wear Thiruman kappu. Swamy Desikan has beautifully explained it in this

work.

 

Vedic authority of Urdhva puNdram dhAraNam is:

 

GruthOdhvapuNdra: paramESithAram nArAyaNam saankhya yOgAdhi gagyam |

jnAthvA

vimuchyEtha nara: samasthai: samsaara paaSairiha chaiva vishNu: ||

 

MahOpanishad statement above sys: One who wears Urdhva puNdra and meditates

on Lord Sriman Narayanan and realizes Him through his mind gets liberated

from the bondage of samsaara.

 

In Paancharaathra samhitha it is said:

 

yagnO dhAnam thapou hOma: bhOjanam pithru tharpaNam

sarvE bhavanthi viphalaa: Urdhva puNdram vinAkruthA:

 

Yaga, charity, penance, daily sacrifice, taking food, offering of

water to manes (argyam?) etc., is all null and void if one does without

wearing Urdhva pUndram. Libations means pouring of water in honour of God.

Manes means spirit of the dead (deceased Father, Mother. Grand father,

Grand

mother, Great grand father, Great grand mother et al).

 

pithru tharpaNam means offering water with sesame seeds to those twelve

Pithru dEvathAs. Hence, wearing Urdhva pUndram is essential. The shape of

Urdhva pUndra should be in the shape of HaripAdakruthi (in the shape of the

Lotus Feet of Sriman Narayanan). In Varaaha pUrAna Lord says:

 

yEkAnthina: mahAbhAgA: math swarUpa vidha: amalA:

sAntharAlAn prakurvIran puNdrAn *mama padhaa kruthin*

 

As per Brahmaanandha purAna, in the middle of every Urdhva puNdra, which is

wide and good looking, Lord Sriman Narayanan stays with His Consort Goddess

Mahalakshmi. The symbol of Mahalakshmi is Sri choorNam which may be either

in red or yellow colour.

 

Thus, Swamy Desikan in the three chapters, establishes by his beautiful and

inimitable style and power of arguments based strictly on scriptures, the

three important customs and rituals of Srivaishnavas which are Pancha

samskaram, UrdhvapuNdradhAraNam and partaking of the food offered to the

Lord Sriman Narayanan in archa form.

 

(The above article is based on write up of Sri U Ve Anantha

Naarasihmachariar Swamin of Srirangam)

 

In this connection, a fervent appeal is made to every Srivaishnava to

strictly

adhere to the above customs and eschew any contact or worship of any

deities

other than Lord VishNu. More important: DO NOT WIPE OFF when you step out

of the house.

The sikhs do not remove their turbans; the arabs not their head ring.. But

why should we?

That is as bad as not wearing it, if not worse.

 

AzhwAr Emperumaanaar Desikan thiruvadigaLE SaraNam

Regards

Namo Narayana

aDiyEn Narayana dAsan madhavakkannan