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Ramanuja List Archive: Message 00019 Jan 2004

 
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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.
==================================================
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
=================================================================
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.
==================================================================

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)
===================================================================

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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