Panniru Naamam

OORDVA PUNDRA DHAARANA DHYANA SLOKAS
The following Dhyana Slokas are recited when applying the vertical pointing marks on the forehead and other parts of the body (Oordva PuNdrams). The belief is that we consecrate the deity forms of Lord Sriman Narayana presiding over the respective spots, surrendering ourselves to them and seeking protection.

Swami Desika has also confirmed this in his Tamizh Prabandham, ?Panniru Tirunaamam?. This Prabandham is dedicated to Lord Varadan of Kanchipuram where Swami Desika offered his surrender (Bhara SanarpaNam). In this, Swami gives details of the name of the deity form, color, weapons, direction faced, and the spot on which the respective marks are to be applied on our body.

Let us first enjoy the meaning of the Slokas. The meanings of Swami Desika?s Paasurams will follow in the next Issues. Later on, we will consider certain doubts and also explain the practice from a scientific perspective.

Slokam 1
Chatus Chakram Namasyaami Kesavam kanakaprabham /
NaaraayaNam ghana syaamam chatus sankham namaamyaham /
Meaning:
I prostrate to Lord KESAVA who appears with a golden hue and wields four DISCS (Chakram), I genuflect before Lord NAARAAYANA who shines like the dark rain bearing clouds and adorns four CONCHES (Sangam)

Slokam 2:
Madhavam maNi pankaabham chinthayaami Chatur Gadham /
Chandrbhaasam chatus Saarngham govindam abi samsrayE //
Maening:
I meditate on the Lord MASDHAVA who shines like a gem and holds four MACES (Gadha). I take refuge in Lord GOVINDA who has the cool luster like that of the moon and who bears four BOWS (saarngham).

Slokam 3:
VishNum chatur Halam vandE pancha kinchalka sannibham /
Chatur Musalamabjaabham samsrayE Madhusoodhanam //
Meaning:
I salute Lord VISHNU who has the hue of the pollen of flowers and who uses four PLOUGHS (hala). I ponder over Lord MADHUSOODHANA who has the color of the ochre lotus and who commands four mighty PESTLES (musalam).

Slokam 4:
Agni varNam chatu: KaDgam bhaavayaami Trivikramam/
Vaamanam baala sooryaabham chatur Vajram vibhaavayE//
Meaning:
I praise Lord TRIVIKRAMA who blazes like the flame of fire and upholds four sharp SWORDS (KaDgam). I meditate on Lord VAMANA who shines like the young rising SUN and utilizes four THUNDERBOLTS (vajra).

Slokam 5:
Sreedharam punDareekaabham chatu: PaTTa samaasrayE/
Chatur Mudgaram abhyEmi HrisheekEsam thaTith prabham//
Meaning:
I take asylum at the feet of SREEDHARA who is lotus like and employs four weapons called ?PaTTasa?. I eulogize Lord HRISHEEKESA who is like a streak of lightning and deploys four hammers (mudgara)

Slokam 6:
Panchaayudham padmanaabham praNamaami arka rOchisham/
DaamOdharam chatu: Paasam Indrakopa nibham bhajE//
Meaning:
I dedicate myself to the care of Lord PADMANABHA who brightens the sky like the Sun (arka) and shoulders five powerful weapons (panchaayudha). I worship Lord DAAMODHARA who shines like the reddish hue of the insect of the rainy season and who carries four kinds of noose (paasa) in His hands.

Slokam 7:
VaasudEvam upaasEham poornEndhyutha sannibham /
Oordva puNDrEshu iti Sreemaan nityam dhyaayeetha naamabhi://7
Meaning:
I meditate upon Lord VAASUDEVA who shines like a million full moons. One should meditate on these names of the Lord while applying the upward pointing Sacred marks.

MENTION OF PIRAATTI ? IN EACH
After wearing TirumaNN, SreechoorNam has to be worn in between the two white lines, reciting the names of PiraaTTi as follows:
1. Sridevi Prathamam nama
2. dviteeyom amrutOdbhava/
3. Tritheeyam Kamalaa prOkthaa
4. Chaturtham Chandra Sodharee //
5. Panchamum thu varaarOhaa
6. shasTam thu Harivallabhaa /
7. Sapthamam VishNu pathnee cha
8. ashTamam VaishNavee tha thaa//
9. Navamam SaarngiNee ptOkthaa
10. dasamam Deva dEvikaa/
11. Ekaadasam Mahaalakshmee
12. Dvaadasam sura sundaree//
TrayOdasm sadhaa dhyaayEth sarvaabheeshTa pradaayineem/
Evam dhyaathvaa antharaalEshu haridraam dhaarayEth Sriyam//
To Continue: Swami Desika?s Panniru naamam




OORDVA PUNDRA DHAARANAM
SWAMI DESIKA?S ?PANNIRU TIRUNAAMAM?
TANIANS 1 and 2 and PAASURAMS 1 TO 12 AND ?PHALASRUTHI?
- (Anbil Ramaswamy)
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As mentioned earlier, Swami Desika has also dealt with the ?Oordva Pundra DhaaraNam? in his Tamizh Prabandham, ?Panniru Tirunaamam?. This Prabandham is dedicated to Lord Varadaraja of Kanchipuram where Swami offered his surrender (Bhara SanarpaNam)

TANIAN 1:
Panniru naamam Tiruvaththi oorappan paadam enru
Nal niram naamam paDai thikku yaavaiyum naam ariya
Thennan thamizh thoDai seeraar kalithurai Odhi eendhaan
Minnuru nool amar vEnkaTa naatha namm DesikanE
MEANING:
? Our Achaarya, Thooppul TiruvEnkaTa naathan, who dons the sparkling white sacred thread on his shoulder, has given for our edification this work in the renowned poetic style of ?KatTTLai Kalithurai? in beautiful Tamizh language, on the feet of the glorious Lord of Hastigiri PeraruLaaLan, detailing the colors, the names, the weapons, the directions etc. relating to the 12 upward strokes of the sacred marks to be worn by Srivaishnavas?.

TANIAN 2:
Kaar koNDa mEnian paada ambuyathai karuthu iruthi
YEr koNDa keerthi Iraamaanujan thun iNai aDi sEr
Seer koNDa thoopul TiruvEnkaTa aariyan seer mozhiyai
Aar koNDu pOtrinum amm maal padathai aDaivikkumE
MEANING:
? Whoever praises the lotus feet of Lord PeraruLaLan who shines with the color of rain bearing dark clouds, and whoever praises the charming and popular feet of Emperumaanaar with the exalted Sri Sookthis of our Acaarya, Thooppul Sri TiruvenkaTanathan is sure to attain the feet of Emperumaan?.

In this, Swami gives some more details like, Name of the deity form, color, weapons, direction faced, and the spot on which the respective marks are to be applied on our body.


SWAMI DESIKA?S
PAASURAMS 1 AND 2 (CORRESPONDING TO DHYANA SLOKA 1)


(Chatus Chakram namasyaami KESAVAM kanaka prabhum
NAARAAYANAM ghana syaamam chatu:sankham namaami aham)

PAASURAM 1:
KEsavanaai ninru keezhai Disaiyilum netriyilum
ThEsuDai aazhigaL naanguDan sem pasum pon malai pOle
Vaasi miguthu enai mangaamal kaakkum marai athanaal
Aasai migutha ayan magha vEdhiyil arputhanE
MEANING:
? This is Lord KESAVA whom I have understood clearly through the Vedas as PeraruLaaLan. This Lord appeared wonderfully in the Yaaga vEdhi of Brahma as Supreme deity. I am sure to be protected for reciting His name. He is having His abode on the Eastern direction and on the forehead of Bhagavatas, and who adorns four brilliant discs (Chakram) and whose body shines like pure and red golden mountain?

PAASURAM 2:
NaaraNaai nal valampuri naalum ugandhu eDuthum
Oor aNi mEgham enavE udaramum mErku ninrum
AaraNa nool thandu aruLaal aDaikkalam koNDu aruLum
VaaraNa verpin mazhai mughil pOle ninra maayavanE
MEANING:
?This is Lord NARAYANA who stands on top of Hastigiri Mountain wonderfully like the cool dark rain bearing cloud moving around. He holds happily His four conches with swirls pointing to the right (valam Puri Sanku). His abode is on the middle of the tummy and is on the west, It is He who published the Vedas (aaraNa nool). He will grant protection to me out of His infinite compassion?

PAASURAM 3 AND 4 (CORRESPONDING TO DHYANA SLOKA 2)


(MADHAVAM maNI pangaabham chintayaami Chatur gadam
chandrabhaasam Chatu: Saarngam GOVINDAM aham aasrayE)

PAASURAM 3:
Maadhava naamamum vaan Gadhai naangum maNi niramum
Odhum muraip paDi yEndhi urathilum mElum algip
POdalar maadhuDan pundhiyil anbaal pugundu aLikkum
Thoodhanum Naathanum aaya tholl athi giri chuDarE.
MEANING:
? This is Lord MADHAVAN, with the color of blue diamond (indrakopam). He is the brilliant flame of Lord of Hastigiri and is anti-deluvian (thol athigiri chuDar). He hid His Paratvam and appeared as a mere messanger to the PaaNDavas thus revealing His Soulabhyam. He wields four mighty maces (gada). His abode is the middle of the chest and in the upward direction. He enters my mind with Periya PiraaTTi who is on the lotus flower and protects me out of His infinite mercy?

PAASURAM 4:
Govindan enrum kuLir madhiyaagik koDiyavarai
YEvum dhanukkaLuDanTherkilum utt kazhuthu ninru
MEvum TiruvaruLaal vinai theerthu ennai aaNDaruLum
Poovan thozhaathi maamalai mEl ninra puNNiyanE
MEANING:
? This is Lord GOVINDAN from whose navel arose the four faced Brahma who constantly meditates upon Him. He stands firmly on top of the Hastigiri Mountain like the cool shine of the full moon. He is the very personofication of Spriritual merit (PuNNiyan). He stands with four mighty bows (dhanus) with arrows darting to destroy evil. His abode is in the South and at the center of the neck. He will destroy my sins and grant refuge to me out of His unlimited grace?

PAASURAM 5AND 6 (CORRESPONDING TO DHYANA SLOKA 3)


(VISHNUM Chatur halam vandE padma kinjalka sannibham
Chatur musalam abjaabham samsrayE MADHUSOODHANAM)

PAASURAM 5:
ViTTu vala vayitrin kann vaDakkum viDaathu ninru
MaTTavizh thaamarai daadhu niram koNda mEniyanaaith
ThoTTa kalappaigal eer iranDaalum thuyar arukkum
KaTTezhir Solaik Kari giri mEl ninra karpagamE.
MEANING:
? This is Lord VISHNU who resides on the Hastigiri mountain surrounded by beautiful ever green groves. He stands as the legendary Karpaga tree ( wish fulfilling tree). His color is like the honey laden pollen of the lotus flower. He holds four giant ploughs. He takes His abode on the north and on the right side of the tummy. He will get rid of my woes and protect me?

PAASURAM 6:
Madhusoodhanan enn valap puyam then kizhakku enru ivatrril
Pathiyaai irundhu pon maadhu urai pangaya vaNNanumaai
Mudhu maa vinaigaL arukkum muyalangaL eer iraNDaal
Madhu aar iLam pozhil vaaraNa verpin mazhai mughiLE
MEANING:
? This is Lord MADHUSOODHANA who stands on top of the elephant mountain that is surrounded by groves. He is like the pleasing rain bearing cloud. His color is that of the lotus. He wields four pestles (musalam). His abode is in the South east and on the right shoulder. And together with Mahaalakshmi, He will destroy all my beginningless sins?

PAASURAMS 7 AND 8 (CORRESPONDING TO DHYANA SLOKA 4)


(agni varNam Chatu: KhaDgam bhaavayaami TRIVIKRAMAM
VAAMANAM baala sooryaabham Chatur Vajram vibhaavayE)

PAASURAM 7:
Tiru vikraman thigazh thee niraththan theLivu uDaivaaL
Uruvik karangaL eer iranDu yEndhi valak Kazhuthum
Seru vikramathu arakkar dikkum sirandhu aaLum irai
Maruvik karigiri mEl varam thandhiDum mannavanE
MEANING:
? This is Lord TRIVIKRAMAN , the Emperor who stands on top of Sri Hastigiri mountain and grants boons. He is like the burning flame of fire in color.In His hands are the four unsheathed swords that shine brilliantly. His abodes are the right side of the neck and the direction where the Rakshasas live and known as ?nairuthi? (South west). As a conqueror, He will afford protection to us?

PAASURAM 8:
vaamanan enran vaama udaramum vaayuvin disaiyum
dhaamam aDaindhu daruna arukkan nirathanumaai
sEma marakkalam sem bhavi eer iraNdaal thigazhum
naa mangai mEviya naan mughan vEDhiyil namm paranE
MEANING:
? This is Lord VAAMANA, our SarvEswaran, Sri PeraruLaaLan who arose from the Sacrificial altar (yaagavEdhi) of Brahma, spouse of Goddess Saraswathi. His color is that of the rising Sun. He resides in the direction of Northwest that is guarded by Vaayu (Lord of winds) and on the left part of the tummy. He wields four red hot thunderbolts (vajraayudham). He acts as the ship that takes us to the other shore of Samsaara (i.e) Moksha.?


PAASURAM 9 AND 10: (CORRESPONDING TO DHYANA SLOKA 5)


(SREEDHARAM puNDareekaabham Chatu: PaTTa samaasrayE
Chatur mudgaram abhyEmi HRISHEEKESAM TaTith prabham)

PAASURAM 9:
Seeraar sireedharanaai sivan dhikkum iDap puyamum
YER aar Idam koNDu ilangu VeN thaamari mEniyanaaip
Paar aaya pattayam eer iraNdaalum bhayam arukkum
Aaraa amudhu athi maa malai mEl ninra achyuthanE
MEANING:
? This is Lord SREEDHARA who is insatiable nectar and stands permanently on top of Hastigiri mountain. He will never forsake (achyuthan). His devotees. His abode is that of Lord Siva (North East) and the left shoulder. His color is that of the white lotus. He holds four weapons called ?PaTTayam?(sharp spear shaped lance) with which he rids us of all fears?

PAASURAM 10:
Enn iDeekEsan irai keezh iDak Kazhuthu enru ivatril
Nannlai minn uruvaai naalu murkarangaL koNDu aLikkum
Pon aghil serndhu alaikkum punal vEgai vaDa karaiyil
Thennan ugandhu thozhum thEna vEdhiyar deivam onrE
MEANING:
? This is Lord HRISHEEKESAN who is the ONLY supreme deity. He stands on the northern banks of river Vegavathi that is washed by gold and fragrant sandalwood. He is the darling of PaNDya king and of the Vaidikas living at Thenambakkam who constantly worship Him. His color is like the sharp lightning that seems to have stayed permanently. His abode is down in the nether regions (keezh) and the left side of the neck. He holds four mighty hammers (mudgaram), with which He will protect us?

PAASURAMS 11 AND 12: (CORRESPONDING TO DHYAN SLOKA 6)


(Panchaayudham PADMANAABHAM praNamaami arka rOchisham
DAAMODARAM Chatur paasam indrakOpa nibham bhajE)

PAASURAM 11:
Emm parpa naabhanum enn pin manam patri manni ninru
Vem por kadiravan aayiram mEviya mei uruvaai
Am ponn karangaLil aimpaDai koNDu anjal enru aLikkum
Sem pon thiru madhiL soozh sindhuraachala sEvaganE
MEANING:
? This is Lord PADMANAABHA, the great warrior who stands in the fortress of Hastigiri protected by huge ramparts of gold. He shines with the red hot brilliance of a thousand Suns. His abode is my mind and on the back of the body. He holds in those golden hands the five weapons (AimpaDai) for protecting us?

PAASURAM 12:
DaamOdaran enran dhaamangaL naalu karangaLir koNDu
AamO tharam ena aagathin utpuram pir kazhuthum
Thaam Ore iLam kadirOne ena enn uLL iruL arukkum
Maa mOgam maatrum madhiL athiyoorin maragathamE
MEANING:
? This is Lord DAAMODAHARA, who shines like the emerald gem called PararuLaaLan. He stays on top of the Hastigiri mountain with four powerful nooses (dhaamam) making us wonder if there can be such an incomparable Lord! His color is that of the rising Sun (iLam kadir) . His abode is both within and without my body and more particularly on the back of the neck. Being there, He will dispel all darkness of ignorance?

PAASURAM 13:
Kathi thiriyum kalaigaLai vellum karuthil vaithup
Pathikku uru thuNai panniru naamam payilbavarkku
Muthikku moolam enavE mozhindha im moonrum naangum
Thithikkum engaL Tiruvathiyoorai sErbavarkkE
MEANING:
This is the Phala Sruthi of this work.
? If one were to recite these 12 names of the Lord with care will acquire the power to vanquish the vain noises made by a-vaidikas. These 12 names will stand as companions to those who desire to develop Bhakti to the Lord. For those who constantly meditate on these 12 names, they will reveal the path to Moksham. These 12 names will taste sweet to Bhagavatas who resort to the Lord of Athiyoor ( Hastigiri)







OORDVA PUNDRA DHAARANAM
A FEW QUESTIONS AND BRIEF CLARIFICATIONS
- (Anbil Ramaswamy)
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1. Chatus Chakram? Why mention same weapon 4 times in each?
Answer:
This has a reference to the Vyuha form of the Lord of which the first is ?Param?. The second form is VUYHA, Sri NARAYANA assumes four forms named 'VASUDEVA; SAMKARSHANA' 'PRADYUMNA' and 'ANIRUDDHA. These are called 'emanations'. The Pancha ratra (lore of five nights) describes in detail what is known as 'Visaka Stupa' an allegorical tower with four levels and four sides. The column consists of four parts called respectively from bottom to top Jagrat (the waking state), Svapna (the dreaming state) Sushupti (Dreamless sleep) and the Turiya (the fourth stage). At the base of the column is the Jagratha sthana, which has four divine forms on the four sides, called VASUDEVA, SAMKARSHANA, PRADYUMNA and ANIRUDDHA respectively facing the East, the South, the West and the North. The activity of this Vyuha is the creation, maintenance and destruction of the world. These forms are bright in colors, with arms and weapons. The Lord is meditated as wielding four weapons in each case as per the Dhyana Slokam of Oordva Pundra Dharanam.
(The above is as per the inputs at Kaalakshepams of Acharyas on AnushTaanams, while in India)

2. Why Oordva pundram and why Tiryak is not advised.
Answer:
In Srimad Valmiki Ramayanam, -
- Sage Vriddha Jaabaali categorically lays down that ?All those born as Brahmins should wear only the Oordva Pundram? (eructus)
- Sage Sadaadhar further cautions that ?Brahmins should NOT wear the Pundram in the horizontal mode even playfully but should wear only in the upward mode and that one who wears any sacred mark horizontally (tiryak) are indeed fallen souls.
- While discussing the issue, ? ParamEshtya Samhita? lays down that Kshatriyas may wear Oordva pundram with eagle wood (agil) or sandalwood or TirumaNN (White clay).
- Poet Kambar who has learned all these has also confirmed that only by wearing Oordva Pundram that right from Brahma down to every Jiva, can cross the Prakriti mandalam and attain Paramapadam and enjoy eternal kainkaryam to the Lord.?
(Vide page 611 of ?Ramapiraanai KarpOm? by H.H. Srimad Andavan of Poundarika puram Swami Ashramam)

3. Do these signify Lord?s feet?
Answer:
Yes and No. This is only for a constant reminder of adorning the feet of Divyadhamapathis on one?s head. A symbolic representation is worn on the forehead where the mark will be visible, instead of the head itself, The red / yellow mark representing Thaayaar is only to indicate the inseparability of the Lord and Piraatti. (Agalakillen and anaithulagum? aravindalochananai tinaithalavum vidaal). Where the Lord is, she is there too and vice versa.
(The above is as per the inputs at Kaalakshepams of Acharyas on AnushTaanams, while in India)

4. Why the Lord is made to wear?
Answer:
The ?Tirumuga Mandalam? of the Lord showers His infinite mercy on us. The ?Abhayahastham? (showing His hand in a protective posture) ensures His promise of protection. When? When one surrenders at His feet. Lord Srinivasa, in fact, shows where to surrender. He shows with His hand pointing towards His feet. Did not Lord Krishna advise ?maam ekam SaraNam vraja? meaning to ask us to surrender at His feet? Of all the three mentioned above viz., face, hand and feet ? for us, the feet are the most enjoyable because, they can dispel all our sins. What the face and the hand can offer, the feet offer by removing our sins. Azhwars and Acharyas have never been tired of paying glorious tributes to the TiruvaDi of the Lord. That is why, in temples, our head is blessed to come into contact with ?SaTaari? representing Lord?s feet. May be only to show the glory of His feet that Balamukundan puts His toe in His mouth when lying on a banyan leaf at the time of deluge!
MukundaashTakam clearly says this:
KaraaravindEna padaaravindam MukhaaravindE vinivESayantham /
VaTasya patrasya puTE sayaanam baalam mukundam manasaa smaraami?
?I meditate on the Bala Mukunda who lying on banyan leaf, holds His toe with His hand and puts it into His mouth?
(Mukunda means one who grants Moksham).
Vide page 470 of ? Ramapiraanai KarpOm? by H.H. Srimad Andavan of Poundarika puram Swami Ashramam)

May be the Lord wished to taste what it is in His toe that had captivated the Azhwars and Acharyas so much!

To show to the world the respective roles of ideal Guru and ideal Sishya
He took dual roles as ?Nara? (Sishya) and ?Narayana? (Guru). To show us how we should wear the sacred marks, He sets an example by wearing them Himself!

5. What is the significance of wearing the 12 sacred marks on the various parts of the body?
Answer:
? The human being is a bodily natural one; Naturally, religion hooks the physical aspects of nature like water with those of the human embodiment, synchronizing dramatically the interaction between the two sanctifying each other within the environment of the sacred world. Here, a meaningful meeting takes place between the Macrocosm and the Microcosm.

The human organism has several similarities with the other world 'cosmos'- the body to earth, speech to fire, breath to air etc. The white clay (TirumaNN) worn by Hindu men folk as an auspicious index daily on the forehead especially and over several places on the body by some devout Hindus are constant reminders that they came from dust and would ultimately be returning to dust. The powdered saffron (SrichurNam), the saffron red powder prepared from turmeric roots (Kunkumam) (i.e. crosus sativus) worn by ladies serves the same purpose. This reminder is meant to chasten the mind by highlighting the impermanence and perishable nature of this existence and thus to instill a sense of humility and to dispel ego inherent in humanity.

These `Caste marks' as they are called also serve the purpose in religion akin to the purpose served by badges, medals, stripes etc. in Defense and Police establishments. They constitute what we now know of as `ID' cards that indicate the status and the class of the wearer and the functions they belong to. They are like the `formal' dress insisted upon during parties and special gatherings to differentiate the participants from other `layfolk' and 'mere mortals?!

The principles underlying what we now know as acupuncture and acupressure were developed by our ancestors as acutouch, dispensing with the painful `puncture' and `pressure'. By mere `acutouch' of the various parts of the body with appropriate Mantras, the same effects could be secured, though our ancestors did not spell them out in a way understandable to the so called modern scientific mind.

Modern Computer is activated by soft feather touch of the keys in the keyboard. Similarly, our physical body with the nerve endings would respond to mere soft 'acutouch" provided the touch is administered in conjunction with the appropriate 'Mantras". No puncture or pressure would be needed to activate these nerve endings and the mere touch would do the magic.

Our body is held together by Pranas or life force which moves through meridians - a kind of electrical pathways. These connect various organs and glands with endings in our hands, chest, neck, forehead, stomach, back of neck as also feet, knee joints etc. Just as the arteries carry blood, these meridians carry the life-force energy throughout the body. This system has switches and junction points, which could be activated to regulate supply of life- force to the various parts of the body.
When the flow is interrupted for any reason, disease sets in. The remedy lies in switching on the current by applying a stimulant by a gentle touch at the appropriate end points as aforesaid. This relaxes muscular tension, promotes blood circulation and ensures flow of life force energy to the affected parts by releasing pain killers like endorphins, neuro chemicals etc. and they stimulate an alpha wave response in the brain and pituitary glands thus increasing our energy stock and facilitates diaphragmatic breathing and relieves knuckles - all without our ever noticing it.

During Sandya Vandana, we sprinkle water on these nerve endings and touch them with appropriate `Mantras' and earlier to that, we apply the `Caste marks' with white clay (TirumaNN) and powdered saffron (SrichurNam) at the appropriate places which suck the impurities invisibly. These have been integrated in our daily chores as an in-built discipline.?
(From Chapter 16 Section 3 Karma Yoga? of ?Hinduism Rediscovered? by Anbil Ramaswamy)

6. Red or yellow? Why?
Answer:
Both Red and yellow are mentioned.
Srisuktham which has Vedic authority along with Purusha Suktham mentions in Slokam 4 ?Padma VarNaam? which means ?lotus colored? Though lotus comes in several colors (e.g.) white one on which Goddess Saraswati is found seated, generally it is associated with color ?red?.

There are several references to the use of yellow. A few are as follows:

- The same Sri Suktham Slokam 13 and 14 lend authority for this since they describe Mahaalakshmi as ? PingaLaam? which means ?tawny-colored or ?brownish yellow? and HirNmayeem? which means ?of golden form?. And, we know gold is yellow in color.

- Swami Desika in his Sri Sthuthi Slokam 11 uses the expression ?Taptha jaambhoonadha aabhaa? which means ?One who shines like melted gold? to refer to the color of PiraaTTi. He says that this golden hue of Thaayaar heightens the beauty of the color of the Lord;s ?Hari marakathE? which means ?emerald colored? (and we know emerald is green in color).

Therefore, ?Paramaikanthins who worship PerumaaL and PiraaTTi as the divine couple as the means and the endof meditation use yellow to represent Thaayaar while wearing the Sacred marks along with ThrumaNN to represent PerumaaL.
(The above is as per the inputs at Kaalakshepams of Acharyas on AnushTaanams, while in India)

7. What if only white or red/yellow alone is worn?
Answer:
White alone:
We know what happened to Soorpanaka who tried to separate the Lord from His spouse. Those who wear only white are considered to belong to ?Soorpanaka party? and face the consequences! Further it is worn alone only for apara karyam (ceremonies related with death)

Red/Yellow alone:
We know similarly what happened to Ravana who abducted Sri Sita away from Her Lord. Those who wear only Red/Yellow are considered to belong to Ravana?s party and face consequences, which Ravana faced!
(The above is as per the inputs at Kaalakshepams of Acharyas on AnushTaanams, while in India)

8. What if nothing is worn?
Answer:
A forehead without the sacred marks is compared to a barren land especially a ?Smasaanam?, a cremation ground!
(The above is as per the inputs at Kaalakshepams of Acharyas on AnushTaanams, while in India)

9. Can we rub it off?
It used to be said that Wearing is like ?putting up? a temple and rubbing it off like ?pulling down? a temple. We know that it is PuNyam to construct a temple while it is sinful to demolish a temple. Of course, it can be rubbed off, if faded in part or full accidentally or only one is visible or both are not visible by such fading. We are advised to wear them again immediately after such rubbing off. This is like ?renovation? (JeerNOddhaaraNam) of a temple.
(The above is as per the inputs at Kaalakshepams of Acharyas on AnushTaanams, while in India)

10. Mode of Sacred mark
Answer:
It would appear that when an AchArya observed that the base of the Sacred mark should touch the ?Moolam?, tip of the nose, one set took it to mean the Interciliary space between the eyebrows or ?top-tip? that links the eyebrows with a U shaped curve while the other took it to mean the ?toe-tip? with a spear- point - like stroke riding on the back of the nose reaching up to the nostrils. We do not know whether the AchArya did not explain what he meant or the Sishyas did not seek a clarification or the AchArya had become unavailable for a clarification! Be that as it may, the practices had come to stay and stay with such disastrous consequences. This is an example of how over -enthusiastic fanatics could blow up even insignificant and inconsequential distinctions to abnormal proportions.

In any linear dispensation, there are 3 locations recognized in Sastras viz. ?Agram?, ?Madhyam? and ?Moolam?. ?Agram? means tip; ?Madhyam? means ?midpoint? and ?Moolam? means the ?root? or ?base?.


Most of us know the Slokam on Lord Krishna:
? Kasturi Tilakam lalaaTa palakE Vaksha SthalE Kousthubam
Naasa agre nava mouktikam kara thalE VENum karE kangaNam??

Here, the words ?NaasagrE nava Mouktikam? are significant. This means that the Lord wears the nose jewel at the tip of the nose. Where is it worn? At the ?toe-tip? which ?Naasa Agra? means,(?toe-tip? and not at the ?top-tip?). Therefore, ?Naasa moolam? must refer to the other end viz. the intercilary space between the eyebrows and the base is said to be at this ?naasa moolam?

Perhaps, this is why followers of Bhagavad Ramanuja - Swami Desika Sampradayam wear the ?base? of the Sacred mark the way they do at the ?moolam? and not ?agram?
(The above is as per the inputs at Kaalakshepams of Acharyas on AnushTaanams, while in India)