sri:

Dear Sri Sampath Kumar Swamin: Please accept adiyEn's humble pranams:

adiyEn has written a small article on this aspect after some research, here is
the exerpt:
The last para refers to the reason for Lord having Thiruman Kappu. Feel free to
ask more questions.

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Discussion with Students at UIC: Marks of Vishnu, They so differrent & Why do we
wear them on us?
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Question: Who are Vaishnavas, whom do they worship & how many groups are there?
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Vaishnavas (Worshippers of Vishnu as the Supreme) wear on their bodies the
LORD's external symbols. There are several groups of Vaishnavas,
srI Vaishnava, Chaitanya, Vallabha, ISKON Vaishnavas (fast growing).

Question: Who are SriVaishnavas? Whom do they worship?
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Among these groups, srI Vaishnavas have their faith in Bhakti & Prapatti
for/to srIman nArAyanA (MahaVishnu & MahaLakshmi), and
wear on their foreheads the mark of the feet of the LORD, in the vertical
position.

Question: What can you tell us about ThirumaN shapes and why we wear?
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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"

Minor Vedantic differences existed between scholars, subsequent to the age of
Purvacharyas,
which formed into Vatakalai & Thenkalai groups.
Both groups wear the "Lords feet" of different forms Y & U, but they both will
quote
the same Pancaratra samhita sloka as authority.

Question: Which one denotes the feet of the LORD?
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Both Y & U denote both the feet of the lord
(Charanao, is Dwithia vibhakti in Sanskrit)

Question: What does Swami Vedanta Desikan recommend to be worn?
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Swami VedantaAcharyan 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. (He does not say Y or U)

If there had been any conrtoversy over this at that time, swami VedantaAcharyan
would have mentioned this in his work.

Question: Does Swami Vedanta Desikan say two feet or one foot?
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All the “Y” thiruman scholars believe that Y stands for both the feet of the
LORD.

There are some “U” scholars who have their reasons for why U stands only
for one foot of the Lord. (adiyEn is not knowledgeable in this aspect.)

There are also some other “U” scholars who have their reasons for
why U stands only for two feet.

During Swami VedantaAcharya’s time there was no controversy over this,
if there was any, He would have mentioned it.
Also the Y scholars believe that Swami VedantaAcharya wore a Y shaped
Thiruman & the U scholars believe he wore a U thiruman.

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)

Question: So there is no differrence between Y and U?
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There is a difference in Y and U shape. And there are some doctrinal
differrences.

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 Madhvasti, The Hard Part : Nasikamula (or Nasamula)

The Y shape comes as the Mark should commence from the "Hard part" of the nose


Question: Does the padam extra portion in the Y mark denote or signify anything?

This Padam also denotes Acharya Sambhandam in the Y mark.

For those after Bhagawad Ramanuja’s time the padam in the Y mark denotes Swami
Ramanuja (as The Acharya),
for those before Sri Ramanuja’s time The padam denotes their respective
acharyas.


Question: What do the Vaikhnasa and ISKON followers do?
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Vikhanasa muni :- (Wearing Y Shape) in most Indian Temples.
We have had long dicussions about this with 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.

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 his followers for the reasons for the Y shape on their
forehead
All they said : it is per our acharya and his words on this are as per Puranas.

Question: What is the Red Mark in between Stand for, Some have Yellow mark?
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Now the Presence of MahaLakshmi between the feet of the LORD is acccepted by
both Y & U (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's
position of Lakshmi is marked red. Thenkalais and some of the Vadakalais have
adopted the red color for sre:churna.
The other part of Vadakalai use the Yellow color and they also have authorities.
"Hiranya Varnam Harinim ...." Golden Color


Question: Why we wear Thiruman?
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Answer: To take the feet of the Lord on our forehead and other parts
(To indicate we are HIS servants)

Question:. Why do we do that.?
==========================
To make our body a temple for srImannArAyanA (srI & 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.

"Selfless service" to the Lord and his devotees is the main goal (with total
surrender)

Question:. Why do we put Thiruman on the Lord: (Why put the feet of the Lord on
the Lord?)
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Lord wears Thiruman as the indication of the ayudhas (weapons)
(some scholars say to protect devotees, and universe etc)

The Lord is also our Prathama Acharyan
Also to identify with other devotees as you are one of us.

We pray to Lord SrImannarAyanA and Purvacharyas to help with the
spreading of srI Sampradaya all over the world, without any divisions
or quarrels between Y & U, without any restrictions about caste & race,

So all beings can enjoy the divine bliss of experiencing srIvaishnavism
and fulfil purpose of life.

We also pray for SadBuddhi so we all treat ALL devotees with utmost
respect and regard. (treat devotees as you would treat the Lord Incarnate.)
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Azhvar Emperumanar Jeeyar Thiruvadigale sharanam

Adiyen Ramanuja Dasan
Mukundan Vangipuram Pattangi
http://www.radioramanuja.com

Dear Mukundan Swami,

Very good explanation for the thiruman kaapu.


Dasan,
Nallan Chakravarthy Narashiman.