Thiruman & SriChurnam: Part1

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=====Original Note by adiyen Yr 2000=======

Humble pranams to all devotees:

 

Vaishnavas (Worshippers of Vishu as the Supreme) wear on their bodies the LORD's

external symbols.

 

There are several groups of Vaishnavas,

Sree Vaishnava, Chaitanya, Vallabha, ISKON Vaishnavas.

 

Among these SreeVaishnavas have their faith in Bhakti & Prapatti

for Sreeman Narayana (MahaVishnu & MahaLakshmi), and

wear on their foreheads the mark of the feet of the LORD, in the vertical

position

 

Works like Padma Purana, Marichi, Pancaharatra, Viakhanasa, Parameswara samhita

etc

explain clearly how the feet of the Lord should be worn on the forehead.

They do not though explain the details of the shape very clearly.

They do give about 25 objects, which the "Lords feet" should resemble, all these

shapes

and forms have the authority of the shastras.

 

These 20 to 25 forms can be reduced to two forms, one resembling the english

letter

"Y" and the other "U" (BUT NEVER TO LOOK LIKE V, V is not correct, as per

shastras)

 

Minor Vedantic differences existed between scholars, subsequent to the age of

Purvacharyas,

which formed into Vatakalai & Thenkalai groups. (about 300 years ago)

Both groups wear the "Lords feet" of different forms U & Y, but they both will

quote the

same Pancaratra samhita sloka as authority.

 

Y & U both denote the lord's feet. (The Bhava of adorning is Dasatvam,

Sheshatvsam)

 

Y specifically denotes both the feet of the lord (Charanao, is Dwithia

vibhakti)

We always say "Charanao Sharanam Prapadye" in many places.

 

VedanataDesikar in "Saccaritra Raksha" explains that the

Mark worn on the forehead of Vaishnavas should not be designated by the name,

but be designated "HARIPADAKRITI" The shape of the feet of Hari.

If there had been any conrtoversy over this at that time, swami VedanataDesikar

would have mentioned this in his work.

For Swami Desika Sampradaya followers:

He exaplins that the space between Srichurnam and ThirumaN, should be a

few fingers thick (at all places)Hence the V shape is not sanctioned here.

 

There are scholars who have their (shatstra based) reasons for why

U stands only for one foot of the Lord. There are scholars who read

the "HARIPADAKRITI" as one foot and not two feet (as it could go either way)

 

So all the controversy we see over Y & U does not have a basis,

as different forms of the Lord's feet have been sanctioned by the Sastras.

No difference or quarrel should arise on this account. (Shape of Feet of the

Lord)

 

The most important thing is why we wear it and the Bhava we need to have.

 

There is a difference in Y and U shape. This mainly arises from interpretation

of the

same sloka that both groups agree on. In the Phrases : Arabhya Nasika Mulam :

 

Nasikamulam arabhya: "nasadikesa paryantam, anasamulam-arabhya" - From

Pancarathra Samhita

 

1st Interpretation (Literal meaning ) Followed by U mark.

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Adi and Mula indicate the Space between two eyebrows, Nasanta (Nose Tip)

 

"Feet of the Lord" is from the space between the eye-brows

- Bhru Madha to the end of the Hair - Kesanta.

 

2nd Interpretation (Technical interpretation) Followed by Y mark.

==================================================

Since Pancaratra samhita is a highly technical treatise (Not a literary work)

the Y groups feels technical interpretation is more appropropriate

 

Nasikamula is one word and not Two words , same as nasamula is one word

 

The nose is divided into two parts :

The soft portion of the nost from the tip : Madhvasti

Over the Mashvasti, The Hard Part : Nasikamula (or Nasamula)

 

The Y shape comes as the Mark should commence from the "Hard part" of the nose

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Vikhanasa muni :- (Wearing Y Shape) in most Indian Temples.

 

I have heard some Vaikhanasa periyavas say (The Thiruvallikeni Chief Priest,

Vaikhanasa Scholar)

Swamin has quoted some Vaikhanasa slokas and explaines the

bottom part as the Stand for the feet of the Lord, as you would not want to just

make

Maha Vishnu & Lakshmi sit on the floor, you always put a stand on which you will

have them grace. So they have a stand shaped like KAMALAM.

 

 

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: (Wear Y shape in all cases)

Since you see the Y shape on all the ISCON followers and HH A.C.B Swami,

adiyEn asked some of ISCON Acharyas for the reasons for the Y shape on their

forehead

All they said was it is per their Acharya and his words on this are as per

Puranas.

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Now the Presence of MahaLakshmi between the feet of the LORD is acccepted by

both

U & Y (Tiruppolinda sevadi yen seeninyin mer porittai - PeriAzhwar)

Lakshmi is represented as Sre:Churna. This is Turmeric (yellow in color) made

red

during manufacture.

According to Pancaratra, in the mystical diagram representing the Lord position

of Lakshmi

is marked red. Thenkalais and half of the Vadakalais have adopted the red color

for sre:churna.

The other part of Vadakalai use the Yellow color and they also have relevant

authorities.

Hiranya Varnam.....(Golden color)

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Follow up quesiotns that will come up:

 

Q. Why we wear Thiruman:

A. To take the feet of the Lord on our forehead and other parts

(To indicate we are HIS servants)

Q. Why do we do that. ?

To make our body a temple for Sre:manna:ra:yana: (Sre: & Narayana)

and to identify us as his property.

 

With this we realize & act in accordance to the Lord and are guided by HIM

: in our Heart we always have HIM; all our physical actions (On Shoulders we

have his sign)

; in speech we are guided by HIM, in thought we are guided by HIM.

and perform "Selfless service" to the Lord and his devotees.

 

Q. Why do we put Thiruman on the Lord: (Why put the feet of the Lord on the

Lord?)

 

Lord wears Thiruman as the indication of the ayudhas (weapons)

(some say to protect devotees, and universe etc)

 

Also to identify with other devotees, to show HE is one of us.

And lead by example.

=========================================================

Prayer 1:

adiyEn prays to Lord Srimannarayana and Purvacharyas to help with the

spreading of Sree Sampradaya all over the world, without any divisions

or quarrels between Y & U, without any concern about caste & race.

 

Prayer 2:

We also pray for SadBuddhi so we all treat all devotees with utmost respect and

regard.

(and treat them as you would treat the Lord Incarnate.)

 

If we treat all devotees of the lord with utmost respect and regard, we will see

our

beautiful Sampradaya spread all over the world, we will see our Mayors,

Presidents and

general public all over taking to this beautiful and logical sampradaya.

 

If anything is wrong in this mail it is adiyEn's fault in understanding our

Acharyas and their works.

 

AzhwAr emberumAnAr Jeeyar thiruvadigale saranam

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

Mukundan Vankipuram Pattangi

http://www.radioramanuja.com

 

======Sri Mohan Sagar's note in 2000 ===========

Respected bhAgavathas,

 

Here are a few additional thoughts, based on what I have learned, to add to Sri

Mukundan Pattangi's lucid and insightful posting on thiruman:

 

The goal of a SriVaishnavan is to awaken to the joyous realization that he/she

is the simple servant of the Supreme Lord, Sriman Narayana. Such a realization

is life changing, effecting every level of our

being, taking us to a level where in body, mind and spirit we become humble

receptacles to His Divine

Grace and simple instruments to His Good Efforts. We want such a realization to

be experienced in

everything we do, say or feel. Both the desire for this experience and the

experience itself is outwardly

expressed to ourselves and others through the wearing of thiruman and

sri:chu:rnam in the 12 major energy

nodes of our body.

 

Two fundamental qualities must be cultivated in a devotee seeking to come to the

Divine awakening

described above. One is Peace and the other is Divine Love. Peace is only known

at the twin Lotus Feet of

of Sriman Narayana. These are our only refuge and our True Home. So, these are

placed on ourselves as

twin vertical white lines. Divine Love can be known only by becoming constantly

aware of the Lord's Mercy

and Compassion, which reside with Him as His Eternal Consort, Sri, the Divine

Mother. Her presence is

seen in the red/yellow marking that is known as the sri:chu:rnam. We could stop

here, but, in order for

both of these to be known and experienced correctly, a proper foundation is

required. Bhagavad Sri

Ramanuja becomes this foundation through our Acha:rya paramparai, and this is

seen as the connector, the

base, if you will, on which the three vertical lines rest. This base is

represented by either the

semi-circular shape or the ""lous flower"" shape that is placed just under the

eye-brows.

 

To me, what is important is not whether the thiruman is shaped U or Y, but

rather the philosophical

attitude that one must cultivate when one is wearing them. We must recognize and

treasure the that our

very ability to wear thiruman is the kind gift of our Acharya, who provides with

us this great honor

during our sama:sra:yanam. We must see the thiruman as a holy sacrament, a

ritual that invokes in us the

the mood of being simple instruments in the Lord's Loving Hands through the

mercy of the Acharya

paramaparai that finds its foundation and highest ideal in Bhagavad Sri

Ramanuja.

 

It is sad and ironic that the very symbol that was intended to cultivate and

express this highest level of

Divine Love and Peace, this gift of our Acharyas, would create such strife in

our community. I join in

Sri Mukundan's prayers for a better understanding that will help us to work

together harmoniously in

preserving and sharing the wonders of our Ramanuja Darshanam.

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