[THIRUMANN]

[Guest guest]

Sri:

 

SrimatE Gopaladesika MahadesikAya Namaha,

 

Adiyen wishes to add a couple of reflections to the scholarly inputs

of Srimans Sadagopan Swamin and Sriman Hari Swamin.

 

First, the Rg, Yajus, and Sama Vedam extol the greatness of Urdhva

Pundram. The Taittriya Upanishad implicitly salutes the Pundra

Samskaram in the Rk " PanchasvaDhikaraNEShu " .

 

Wearing of the Urdhva Pundram by the Lord himself is indicative of

an extremely important tenet of our Vedam-rooted Sampradayam. It is

well accepted in the Vedas, that the ultimate form of worship is

that offered to the Lotus feet of Lord Narayana. Even greater than

this is worship offered to His Bhagavatas. However, the greatest form

of worship is that offered to a Sadacharya. By adorning His forehead

with Tiruman, Our most compassionate Lord provides a wonderful

way to practise this important tenet of our Vedam-rooted Sampradayam.

Let us see how.

 

(1)Among all forms of worship, the ultimate worship is that offered

to

the Lotus feet of the Lord. Since, the Tiruman denotes His Tiruvadi,

Lord Narayana eloquently demonstrates this.

 

(2)Next, Our Lord illustrates Bhagavata Sheshatvam by adorning his

forehead with the Urdhva Pundram. The Tiruvadi denoted by the

Urdhva Pundram symbolizes His Bhagavatas. Therefore, eulogy offered

through His Bhagavatas is accepted by the Lord through his Head.

 

(3)In the Padhuka Sahasram, Swami Desikan has beautifully established

the inseparability of the Lord's Padhukas from his Tiruvadi. The

first thing beheld upon worshipping the Lord's feet is his Padhuka.

Now, the Padhukas are none other than Satari Soori or Satakopan

(Swami NammAzhwar). Swami NammAzhwar is a pioneering Acharya- the

Kulapati for the Srivaishnava Sampradayam. Therefore, he is most

dear to Lord Narayana. Furthermore, the outpourings of Swami

NammAzhwar contain the condensed essence of the 1000 Shakas of the

Sama Vedam. Shruti extols the Lord as " Sama Veda PriyO Vishnu: " . In

the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna states " VedAnAm Sama VedOsmi " .

Consequently, for Lord Narayana, Swami NammAzhwar and the Sadacharya

Parampara in his line reign supreme!

 

It may also be helpful to note that Lord Narayana is the foremost

among those who " practice what they preach " . Afterall the Lord

has declared that Shruti and Smriti are His commands. These commands

prescribe wearing the Urdhva Pundram as well as the mode of worship

prescribed above. By adorning His forehead with the Urdhva Pundram,

Lord Narayana first " practises " and then " preaches " . Therefore, even

in this regard, He is incomparable.

 

Adiyen seeks the pardon of learned scholars on this list for his

indulgence.

 

Namo Narayana,

 

SriMuralidhara Dasan