11

?LEARN OUR SAMPRADAYAM THE EASY WAY?
GRADE I- LESSON 11:?SACRED MARKS?
(Based On The Original in Tamil ?SampradAya pADa Thittam? By Sri Seva Swamigal, Founder, Mani Mandapam and Editor, Sri Desika Seva. TRANSLATION BY SRI M.K>SRINIVASAN,
PRESIDENT, SRI VEDANTA DESIKA RESEARCH CENTER)
======================================================================
Every Srivaishnava (i.e.) the devotees of Lord VishNu or Sriman NArAyaNa should wear the sacred mark on his forehead. This consists of two white upward lines on the forehead joined together by an arc just below the eyebrows on the bridge of the nose. Between the two lines will be a single upward line in yellow, equidistant from the white lines but not touching the curved base of the white lines. Both the white lines and the yellow line are a must and should not be worn in isolation. The white lines represent Lord NArAyANa and the yellow line indicates Goddess Lakshmi. The shape of the whole lines will resemble the outlines of the Lord?s foot. The white lines are drawn with a special purified clay called ?TiumaNN? in Tamil and the yellow is made with ?SrIchoorNam? (auspicious powder)

Such a mark offers protection to the person who wears it. This practice is as old as the Vedas and the sages have enjoined so while worshipping Lord VishNu. The Vedas declare such a one as mahAtma (great soul)
A face devoid of such a mark is devoid of luster, is described as a ?barren land? or even as a ?cremation ground? by knowledgeable people. No religious or spiritual ritual should be performed without wearing the sacred mark.

An orthodox SrivaishNava wears such a mark on 12 places on his body. While wearing them at each spot, a special name of the Lord VishNu and another of Goddess Lakshmi should be chanted. These are described in great detail along with the benefits which accrue therefrom. (Details may be learned from elders or AchAryas).

While all the 12 are important and should be marked, one should never omit to mark at least the forehead (when kEsavAya nama:) is uttered and upper back of the neck (when DamOdarAya nama:) is uttered.

We should be proud and brave in wearing the marks, for they are not mere rituals but are sacred and offer protection to the wearer.

There are two subsects among SrIvaishNavas, the VaDakalais and the Thenkalais. The manner of wearing the sacred mark explained in the first Para applies to vaDakalais. Youngsters should consult the elders about the mode adopted in their family traditions.
Questions
1. What is a ?Sacred mark??
2. Whom should we remember while wearing the Sacred marks?
3. What does the Sacred mark do to us?
4. How does the Vedas describe those who worship VishNU wearing the Sacred mark?