Srivaishnava Urdhva Pundra

Urdhva Pundra (Thiruman+Srichurnam) is the tilaka used by followers of Sri Vaishnava. The figure drawn is representative of the feet of Narayana with Lakshmi in the middle. SrichurNam is the yellow/red line in the middle of the white namas(ThirumaN) that is adorned by members of the Sri Vaishnava tradition (includes Pancharatra,Vaikhanasa, Bhagavada Srivaishnavas). Parashara Smriti which gives a very detailed explanation on ThirumaN, SrichurNam, where to wear, when to wear, how to wear and what should be chanted while wearing the same.

The Sanskrit word Churnam means a powder(mixture). This particular Churnam, dark orange in color is made of special traditional biological components that are meant to have positive scientific and spiritual impact on the 'Agna chakra' (at the temple on the forehead). As it represents the goddess mahalakshmi(Sri) this Churnam is often called as Sri-Churnam. In order to understand its significance one must understand the overall facts behind ThirumaN "the holy clay". Besides being a paraphernalia or an identification, The ThirumaN (the white marks) SrichurNam has high impact on improving ones spiritual prowess.

Significance

The SrichurNam, which traditionally signified the wearer's devotion to Vishnu, is also an important identifying mark.^[1] Iyengars are a caste of Tamil Brahmins who are over 600000 in number. Worn by a priest, ascetic, or worshiper it shows the Hindu tradition (sampradaya) he follows. Looking at the Thiruman SrichurNam, it is even possible to identify the Iyengar subsect to which the wearer belongs.

The abbreviated and the full form of ThirumaN

The abbreviated ThirumaN, shown in the B.K.S. Iyengar picture, is more commonly used by Iyengars in material life. It consists of a single, thin, vertical red or yellow line in the middle of the forehead. Though this is forbidden by smritis that one should not wear SrichurNam devoid of ThirumaN it has come to a common practice by which people wear only SrichurNam due to convenience.

The word SrichurNam is always referred with the ThirumaN and is called as ThirumaN SrichurNam (or Oordhva puNdram) includes a wide set of parallel lines. Thiruman literally means 'holy clay'. It is worn on all occasions by ardent Sri Vaishnavas. The wideness and the shape of the naamam distinguishes Iyengars from north Indian Vaishnavites.

Priests traditionally wear the ThirumaN SrichurNam on 12 places of their body (dvAdasa pundram). See: Samashrayanam.

Etymology and meaning

The etymology of SrichurNam is as follows: Sri refers to Lakshmi, while churaNam literally means powder. Traditionally, ThirumaN represents the feet of Lord Vishnu and the SrichurNam, the red/ yellow line in the middle represents Lakshmi.^[2] Particularly for the followers of Sri Sampradayam Srivaishnavas, the Lord Sriman Narayana (Vishnu) is always seen inseparable from His divine consort Sri Mahalakshmi and hence the marks on the forehead will always represent the Lord's lotus feet(ThirumaN) and His divine consort (SrichurNam) in the middle at His service.

Composition

The red naamam is made of a special traditional biological mixture. The Yellow naamam is worn using sandal wood paste, or using turmeric (Sandal is forbidden from use for bachelors in Vedic tradition).

Types

The two Iyengar subsects, Thenkalai and Vadakalai wear the Thiruman SrichurNam in slightly different ways. The Thiruman in the case of the Thenkalai extends to the bridge of the nose, forming a Y shape.

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  |The Thenkalai shrIcharNaM forms the middle part of the emblem used by many Iyengar or Srivaishnava institutions belonging to that subsect.

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  Iyengar Vedic students in Tanjore, sporting the thenkalai srIcharaNaM. Source:The National Geographic Magazine, Nov 1909

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  Alasinga Perumal, a famous supporter of Swami Vivekananda wearing the thenkalai srIcharaNaM.

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  A color picture showing an example of the Sricharanam style worn by the Thenkalai sect of Iyengar Brahmins.

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  |The Vadakalai shrIcharNaM forms the middle part of the emblem used by many Iyengar or Srivaishnava institutions belonging to that subsect.

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  BKS Iyengar wearing the sricharaNaM in its more casual, abbreviated form.

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  Vadakalai Iyengar priests wearing the srIcharaNaM elaborately over many parts of their bodies.

Notes

1. ^ britannica.com - Vaishnavism
2. ^ Vedic Encyclopedia - see Tilak section

References

• Entwistle, A. W. (1981). Vaishnava tilakas: Sectarian marks worn by worshippers of Vishnu (IAVRI bulletin). International Association of the Vrindaban Research Institute. ISBN B-0007-BNJJ-6. 

See also

• Tilak (Vaishnava)
• Tilaka
• Vibhuti