Significance of namam

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Ranganath,

 

Discussions on the significance of thiruman have taken place in Bhakti

List

several times, so you may wish to peruse these to get a more erudite

understanding of the nuances behind the wearing of the " nAmam. " But,

here are

my two-cents worth, as an introduction:

 

The ability to don the sacred mark of thiruman on our foreheads, and

traditionally, on twelve other places on our body, is a sacrament that

is

gifted to us by the AchAryas during the time of samAsrAyanam.

Consequently,

while it cannot be denied that it demarcates a member of the

SriVaishnava

faith, there are far more philosophical and religious implications to

our

wearing it than just that.

 

Key to experiencing this deeper meaning is to understand what the

thiruman

represents. The twin white vertical lines represent the twin Lotus Feet

of

Sriman Narayana. The red/yellow mark between these two represents the

Compassionate Grace of the Divine Mother, Sri. And, the white base that

completes the nAmam into its U or Y shape is the achArya. In all, the

thiruman represents the essence of the devotee's connection to the

Divine:

Sriman Narayana's Twin Feet which are the way, the goal, and very

essence of

all souls is reachable to the Grace of the Divine Mother through the

intercession and guidance of the lineage of AchAryas that finds its

source in

Bhagavad Sri Ramanuja.

 

Once this meaning is understood, the true bliss of having this sacrament

gifted to us quickly becomes known. Sriman Narayana's Lotus Feet are

the

refuge of all souls, the object of meditation of all the gods and

rishis, and

the very home of all the nitya sUris and our AchAryas. There are souls

that

are spending veritable lifetimes trying to realize these Feet through

intense

meditation; and yet we bhAgavathas, with just the compassionate glance

of our

AchArya, receive them with virtually no effort. One can only began

wonder

just how, among all the souls in the universe, a few less than deserving

souls

soul caught the glance of the Lord to be able to adorn His Feet in this

way.

 

This Treasure of Treasures, then, must be carefully guarded and

nurtured, just

as we would a prize possession. Ideally, we must feel that we are

placing the

most purest, most delicate and and most sacred thing in the Universe on

our

bodies, consequently every effort must be maintained to make our body,

mind

and spirit conducive to being a receptacle for this. So, at least while

wearing the thiruman, if not always, one must attempt to maintain good

thoughts, good words, good actions, and at a minimum, must refrain from

doing

things that go against sAstra.

 

When jewels are proudly displayed in a museum or store, the display case

for

that treasure is decorated in such a way as to highlight and accentuate

the

beauty of the treasure, such that the attention of the public is drawn

towards

it. Similarly, we, as servants and " display cases " of Sriman

Narayana's

Lotus Feet must make an effort to behave in a way that would accentuate

and

draw people to Him and His SiddhAntam. Particularly while wearing the

thiruman, if not at all times, we must behave in way that reflects the

good

qualities of a SriVaishnava, treating all with forebearance and respect,

making every effort to put the needs of other devotees over our own.

Such a

respect and humble mood of servitude must be extended to everyone,

irrespective of race, caste, gender, or linguistic group.

 

If taken to this ideal, this mood of respect and humility reveals to us

and

those around us what is our True and Natural State, as simple servants

and

receptacles to the Lord's Boundless and Unconditional Grace.

 

I hope this helps.

 

adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

Mohan

 

Sree Ranganath Kuntimaddi wrote:

 

> Keeping namam on your forehead is only to state that one is a srivaishnava

> or is there any special significance of the namam?

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri Mohan Sagar:

 

Most recently Srimath PoundarIkapuram

Andavan discussed this important subject

brilliantly and clarified yet another

doubt: If we wear the sacred Paadhams on

Your head to revere HIm and Pirattti , why should

he display it on His forehead at the temples ?

 

Perhaps , Sri Rangaswamy could be persuaded to

share the insightful remarks of this revered

AchArya for the e-list community .

 

Best wishes,

V.Sadagopan

 

 

 

At 10:35 AM 11/24/01 -0700, you wrote:

>Dear Sri Ranganath,

>

>Discussions on the significance of thiruman have taken place in Bhakti

>List

>several times, so you may wish to peruse these to get a more erudite

>understanding of the nuances behind the wearing of the " nAmam. " But,

>here are

>my two-cents worth, as an introduction:

>

>The ability to don the sacred mark of thiruman on our foreheads, and

>traditionally, on twelve other places on our body, is a sacrament that

>is

>gifted to us by the AchAryas during the time of samAsrAyanam.

>Consequently,

>while it cannot be denied that it demarcates a member of the

>SriVaishnava

>faith, there are far more philosophical and religious implications to

>our

>wearing it than just that.

>

>Key to experiencing this deeper meaning is to understand what the

>thiruman

>represents. The twin white vertical lines represent the twin Lotus Feet

>of

>Sriman Narayana. The red/yellow mark between these two represents the

>Compassionate Grace of the Divine Mother, Sri. And, the white base that

>completes the nAmam into its U or Y shape is the achArya. In all, the

>thiruman represents the essence of the devotee's connection to the

>Divine:

>Sriman Narayana's Twin Feet which are the way, the goal, and very

>essence of

>all souls is reachable to the Grace of the Divine Mother through the

>intercession and guidance of the lineage of AchAryas that finds its

>source in

>Bhagavad Sri Ramanuja.

>

>Once this meaning is understood, the true bliss of having this sacrament

>gifted to us quickly becomes known. Sriman Narayana's Lotus Feet are

>the

>refuge of all souls, the object of meditation of all the gods and

>rishis, and

>the very home of all the nitya sUris and our AchAryas. There are souls

>that

>are spending veritable lifetimes trying to realize these Feet through

>intense

>meditation; and yet we bhAgavathas, with just the compassionate glance

>of our

>AchArya, receive them with virtually no effort. One can only began

>wonder

>just how, among all the souls in the universe, a few less than deserving

>souls

>soul caught the glance of the Lord to be able to adorn His Feet in this

>way.

>

>This Treasure of Treasures, then, must be carefully guarded and

>nurtured, just

>as we would a prize possession. Ideally, we must feel that we are

>placing the

>most purest, most delicate and and most sacred thing in the Universe on

>our

>bodies, consequently every effort must be maintained to make our body,

>mind

>and spirit conducive to being a receptacle for this. So, at least while

>wearing the thiruman, if not always, one must attempt to maintain good

>thoughts, good words, good actions, and at a minimum, must refrain from

>doing

>things that go against sAstra.

>

>When jewels are proudly displayed in a museum or store, the display case

>for

>that treasure is decorated in such a way as to highlight and accentuate

>the

>beauty of the treasure, such that the attention of the public is drawn

>towards

>it. Similarly, we, as servants and " display cases " of Sriman

>Narayana's

>Lotus Feet must make an effort to behave in a way that would accentuate

>and

>draw people to Him and His SiddhAntam. Particularly while wearing the

>thiruman, if not at all times, we must behave in way that reflects the

>good

>qualities of a SriVaishnava, treating all with forebearance and respect,

>making every effort to put the needs of other devotees over our own.

>Such a

>respect and humble mood of servitude must be extended to everyone,

>irrespective of race, caste, gender, or linguistic group.

>

>If taken to this ideal, this mood of respect and humility reveals to us

>and

>those around us what is our True and Natural State, as simple servants

>and

>receptacles to the Lord's Boundless and Unconditional Grace.

>

>I hope this helps.

>

>adiyEn rAmAnuja dAsan

>Mohan

>

>Sree Ranganath Kuntimaddi wrote:

>

>> Keeping namam on your forehead is only to state that one is a srivaishnava

>> or is there any special significance of the namam?

>>

>

>

>

>

>-----------------

>

>

>srirangarAja charaNAmbhuja rAja hamsam

>srimad parAnkusa padhAmbhuja brungarAjam|

>sri bhattanAtha parakAla mukhAbhja mitram

>srivatsachihnna saranam yathirAjameedE||

>

>I pay homage to Sri Ramanuja, the swan who has chosen the Lotus Feet of Sri

Ranganatha as his refuge;

>who is collecting the pollen and nectar from the flower-like feet of

Parankusa (NammAzhwAr);

>who brightens like the sun the faces of Bhattanatha (PeriAzhwAr) and

Parakala (Thirumangai AzhwAr), and

>who is the refuge of Kuresa!

>

>