One without the disk of Visnu should be zealously avoided

[suchandra]

Information request, isnt branding as mentioned below something like that:

 

http://www.cowboyshowcase.com/images/brands/Irons_in_the_fire.JPG

 

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/assets/sh/cowboy/sh_cowboy_branding_2_e.jpg

 

Something which never can be removed?

Article below says it has to be renewed every year??

 

For Protection, You Also Need Weapons

 

by Vrindavan dasa (Victor Epand)

Posted June 8, 2006

 

For suicide, you need a gun. To fight in Iraq, you need a gun. But conversely, for protection, you also need weapons. For protection, you need the conch, club, disk, lotus, sword, and bow of Sri Vishnu. What use is a gun without the fire branded weapon marks of Lord Vishnu? "Whose bodies are devoid of the mark of Sri Krsna's disk - like crematoriums are those men or women."

Here are some quotes from Hari Bhakti Vilasa in reference to the fire branded weapon marks:

"Who carries the branded disk on his body gets the strength of the gods, of immortal Visnu. Shaking off sin, he proceeds to heaven, where the ascetics with subdued passions enter."

"Whose bodies are devoid of the mark of Sri Krsna's disk - like crematoriums are those men or women. O king, seeing such a person one should bathe fully dressed and quickly worship Hari!"

"Even if someone is impure, badly behaved and has given up all religious duties, if he is marked by the branded conch and disk he purifies an assembly."

"Whether someone decorated with the disk resides in a pure land or one of barbarians, three yojanas in all directions from him is My field on earth."

"A brahmana who is marked with the disk of Visnu should be worshipped with all rites, but one without the disk of Visnu should be zealously avoided."

"If a Vaisnava brands his body with all the weapons of Visnu, he will go to the highest abode."

Pertaining to scriptures that prohibit wearing these marks: "Now, the statements prohibiting this observance are baseless and rejected by the wise, and those statements that are based on scripture pertain to abandoning the rules, etc." The fire branding lasts for 1 year, and should be renewed on the Dvadasi of Sayana Ekadasi.

[Guest guest]

Do you have any more pictures of what these markings exactly look like?

 

sounds interesting.

 

-Hare Krishna

[suchandra]

 

Do you have any more pictures of what these markings exactly look like?

 

sounds interesting.

 

-Hare Krishna

 

Here are some other pictures of these markings "that sound interesting" and a quote from Hari Bhakti Vilasa:

 

"Whose body is devoid of the mark of Sri Krsna's disk - like crematoriums are those men or women. O king, seeing such a person one should bathe fully dressed and quickly worship Hari!"

 

 

 

[madhavachari]

I have received pancha-samskara which includes tapa or branding. Chakra on the right shoulder and sankha on the left. And it is done once and lasts a lifetime.

 

Here is some info about it:

 

1. thApa SamskAram:

This is the first samskAram. The AchAryA embosses the impressions of Conch (Shankam) and Discus (Sudarshana chakram) on the left and right arms of the disciple, respectively.

 

To give an analogy in the materialistic world, a sales representive wears a logo representing the organization for which he is working. Factually, we (JIvAtmAs) are servants of the Supreme Lord Sriman NArAyanA. So, we also identify ourselves through the things which uniquely represent Him. NArAyanA holds the Conch(PAnchaJanyam) in His Left Hand and the Sudarshana Chakram in His right Hand. So, we also bear the same way. Any highly fortunate jivAtmA, who becomes a devotee of Lord Vishnu will be very happy about wearing Shankam and Chakram.

 

The AchAryA with great devotion recites the mantrAs to invoke Sriman NArAyanA and His weapons Sudarshana Chakram & PAnchajanyam. The Supremely merciful NArAyAnA abides by it. The Lord and His weapons thus become present in the Agni (Fire). Then, the AchAryA prays specifically to the divine weapons to be eternally present with the disciples for whom Pancha SamskAram is being performed.

 

The emblem of"Sudarshana ChakrA"is heated in the agni and is embossed on the right hand, by chanting a hymn, which translates into "Oh! Sudarshana MahAJwAlA (Highly resplendent), as lusturous as crores of Sun, please show me, an ignorant one, the path of Lord Vishnu".

 

Then, the emblem of"PAnchajanyam"is heated in the fire and is embossed on the left hand, by chanting a hymn, which translates into "Oh! PAnchajanyA! You are capable of driving away the sins of individuals through your sound. Please protect me, a sinner, from this samsArA".

[suchandra]

 

I have received pancha-samskara which includes tapa or branding. Chakra on the right shoulder and sankha on the left. And it is done once and lasts a lifetime.

 

Here is some info about it:

 

1. thApa SamskAram:

This is the first samskAram. The AchAryA embosses the impressions of Conch (Shankam) and Discus (Sudarshana chakram) on the left and right arms of the disciple, respectively.

 

To give an analogy in the materialistic world, a sales representive wears a logo representing the organization for which he is working. Factually, we (JIvAtmAs) are servants of the Supreme Lord Sriman NArAyanA. So, we also identify ourselves through the things which uniquely represent Him. NArAyanA holds the Conch(PAnchaJanyam) in His Left Hand and the Sudarshana Chakram in His right Hand. So, we also bear the same way. Any highly fortunate jivAtmA, who becomes a devotee of Lord Vishnu will be very happy about wearing Shankam and Chakram.

 

The AchAryA with great devotion recites the mantrAs to invoke Sriman NArAyanA and His weapons Sudarshana Chakram & PAnchajanyam. The Supremely merciful NArAyAnA abides by it. The Lord and His weapons thus become present in the Agni (Fire). Then, the AchAryA prays specifically to the divine weapons to be eternally present with the disciples for whom Pancha SamskAram is being performed.

 

The emblem of"Sudarshana ChakrA"is heated in the agni and is embossed on the right hand, by chanting a hymn, which translates into "Oh! Sudarshana MahAJwAlA (Highly resplendent), as lusturous as crores of Sun, please show me, an ignorant one, the path of Lord Vishnu".

 

Then, the emblem of"PAnchajanyam"is heated in the fire and is embossed on the left hand, by chanting a hymn, which translates into "Oh! PAnchajanyA! You are capable of driving away the sins of individuals through your sound. Please protect me, a sinner, from this samsArA".

 

That is surely a powerful Vaishnava ritual of spiritualizing ones body by these auspicious symbols which surely have the effect of keeping away bad influence. How big are those emblems?

Just found this, Srila Prabhupada also mentioned branding:

http://www.vnn.org/world/WD9809/WD06-2159.html

"This practice is found in Hari-bhakti-vilasa, and has been mentioned by Srila Prabhupada in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 1.35 Purport, while referring to the subject matter of Hari- bhakti-vilasa, quote "There are also descriptions of branding the body with the symbols of Vishnu" It should also be noted that this system of branding although still common today amongst the vaishnavas of the Madhva and Ramanuja sampradayas, has fallen into disuse among Gaudiya vaishnavas who prefer to stamp or draw the symbols on their bodies with tilaka or sandalpaste."

[Guest guest]

what about the lotus and the club ? places for those?

[madhavachari]

 

That is surely a powerful Vaishnava ritual of spiritualizing ones body by these auspicious symbols which surely have the effect of keeping away bad influence. How big are those emblems?

Just found this, Srila Prabhupada also mentioned branding:

http://www.vnn.org/world/WD9809/WD06-2159.html

"This practice is found in Hari-bhakti-vilasa, and has been mentioned by Srila Prabhupada in Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 1.35 Purport, while referring to the subject matter of Hari- bhakti-vilasa, quote "There are also descriptions of branding the body with the symbols of Vishnu" It should also be noted that this system of branding although still common today amongst the vaishnavas of the Madhva and Ramanuja sampradayas, has fallen into disuse among Gaudiya vaishnavas who prefer to stamp or draw the symbols on their bodies with tilaka or sandalpaste."

 

Suchandra > The tapas or brandings are approximately four centimeters in diameter.

 

Guest > Lotus and club are not branded at all.

 

 

"ThApa SamskAram is highly glorified by the sAstrAs in various

places. Some of them are as follows :

 

1. Brahmasooktha in the Atarva Mahopanishad says " ChakrA in the right

shoulder and Sankha in the left shall be worn" .

 

2. The Pushkala Samhita in Rig VedA says " Oh vishnu ! The learned wear

the holy Sankha - Chakra to cross the ocean of samsArA ".

 

3. Atarva vedA says " By adorning the armour of the Lord , we shall live

happily in this world and reach the abode of the Lord ( conveying that

others cannot reach Sri Vaikuntam ) "

 

4. In the Vishnu Tattvam , the passage narrating about NarakalokA says "

Wearing of Sankha and ChakrA informs the relationship with Vishnu . The

sentries of YamA are afraid of them . The world will perish if they are

belittled . The devotees of Vishnu are never seen in YamA's place due to

the glory of Sriman NArAyanA " .

 

5. BheeshmaparvA of MahAbhArathA says " All shall , as ordained in the

PAncharAtrA SAstrA preached by Lord SankarshanA ( NArAyanA ) , wear the

chakrA mark. They only are eligible to worship BhagavAn Vishnu ( Bhagavad

ArAdhanam ) "

 

6. VarAhapurAnam glorifies the persons wearing the hot seals of the

Supreme Lord Sriman NArAyanA on their arms (shoulders) . It says that

these devotees ultimately reach Sri Vaikuntam .

 

7. Garuda PurAnam says that only those who have been affixed with the

Sankha and ChakrA are eligible to take part in the ceremony to

forefathers."

 

http://www.ramanuja.org/sv/bhakti/archives/jan98/0077.html

[Guest guest]

How much does it hurt? Do you scream when it is applied?

[madhavachari]

 

How much does it hurt? Do you scream when it is applied?

 

No pain or screams.

[Guest guest]

do you have any pictures of what they look like as they are on the body?...the actual brandings.