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Tiruman, Naamam, Tilak or Oordhva Pundram Significance.
The Vaishnavite Paribhasha (colloquial) for wearing ThirumaN (Auspicious Clay) is ThirumaN Kappu Saatal. The key word here seems to be Kaapu or Protection. That protection is achieved thru the Lord"s weapons like Panchaayudhams . Like Dig Bhandhanam before Mantra recitation, the request for protection of the limbs of one body and protection from above, behind, sides etc is a well known practise in Ahnikaas (Performance of Daily rituals prescribed).Hence , ThirumaN Kappu can be viewed as a Kavacham , that confers protection on the Vaishanavaas wearing that by invoking the weapons and the power of the Lord. The freedom from fear of the ThirumaN kappu wearing Vaishnavas referred to relates to the Mahaviswasam of the Vishnu Bhaktas in Lord"s protection.
Dvadasa Oordhva Pundrams (12 Naamams)
Forehead, Presiding lord is Kesavan. His color is invoked as Golden. His weapons are 4 Chakrams. The direction assigned to him is East.` Centre Portion of Stomach, the next site to wear Urdhva Pundram has Sriman Narayana as the presiding deity. His Color is visualized as Blue.His Weapons are 4 Conches .The direction of protection offered by him is West.Thus it goes on for the rest of the 10 Urdhva Pundram.
Incidentally, Urdhva Pundram is associate with Urdhva Rethas celebrated in the Vedic Passage "Urdhva Retham virupaksham Viswaroopaya Nama:" Urdhva Pundaram is also symbolic of Sattvika Guna by Lord Krishna In Bhagavat Gita ( Urdhvam Gacchanti Satttwasthaa:).Reference to this is from Naaradheeyam. In this context, this souce says that the Vishnu Bhaktaas should not wear Tiryak Pundram(cross , horizontal wearing of the Pundram) even as a playful matter. Vishnu Dharmottaram establishes guidelines as to which finger to use in applying ThirumaN. Pavitram wearing finger and the middle finger are taboo. One should apply ThirumaN , while sitting. The Thirucchornam used must be sanctified. Any vermillion paste wont do. The people, who have had Bharanyaasam should wear the Yellow choornam and others the Vermillion version.
The thirumaN wearing has to have the White two lines and the Red/Yellow line at the center, housing the Divine coulpe, who are never seperated. The two white lines are like temple for them. Lord Himself says that he and His consort love to reside in the temple created by the two broad white lines of ThirumaN. Narrow crowding of the two lines are not desirable to him.
Jai Srimannaryana !
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