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FW: Significance of KumKum/SriChurnam

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Shashikanth Hosur • December 10, 1998 


Namaskaram
Heres an article about the significance of srichurnam by Sri Sadagopan.

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Sadagopan [SMTP:sgopan@computer.net]
> Sent:	Tuesday, August 25, 1998 8:05 PM
> To:	bhakti@lists.best.com
> Subject:	Re: Significance of KumKum
> 
> A BhakthA from Australia wanted quickly information
> on the significance of Kumkumam in our tradition .
> My reply to him is attached . If you have additional
> information , please share it with the other members of 
> our list . It may be useful to all of us .
> 
> V.Sadagopan 
> 
> >Hello Sri Rajan :
> >
> >I will sum up  a few points to focus on the significance
> >of Kumkumum .Literally Kumkumum means saffron . For our use ,
> >it is the vermillion used on the forehead of Sumangalis 
> >to indicate their SoumAngalyam. This is one of the five 
> >items(entities ) used to refer to their SoumAngalyam 
> >or auspicious wedded state . The other four are ManjaL ,
> >Ear Rings, Bangles and ThAli ( mangala sUthram ) . 
> >A Sumangali is never without tilakam on her forehead . 
> >It has manjal and SuNNAmphu heated together to 
> >produce that color .
> >
> >From the VaishNava Point of view , Sri ChUrNam represents 
> the SoumAngalyathvam of a Jeevan wedded to the Lord . 
> Sri ChUrNam along with PunDram worn on the 12 sites of 
> the body of a Sri VaishNavA is assoicated with our salutations 
> >to the 12 UpavyUhA forms of the Lord with His consort
> >( KamalA NirapAyan = one who is never separted from 
> >Her Lord ) .It starts with Sri Kesava and ends with 
> >Sri VaasudEvA .The wearing of the PuNDram and 
> >Sri ChUrNam is part of the purificatory ceremonies
> >after pancha SamskAram by AchAryA . Our body is formed
> >of Prakrithi , which forms also the body of the Lord in 
> >Sri VisishtAdvaitha SiddhAntham . The 12 UpavYuha forms
> >of the Lord reside in the  12 sites of our body , where we 
> >wear Sri ChUrNam and ThirumaNN and our wearing the 
> >12 Urdhva PuNDrams is an external display of reverence for
> >those UpavYuha forms of Sriya: Pathi and His consorts
> >associated with each of the 12 forms .Swami Desikan's
> >Panniru ThirunAmam  rahasya grantham provides details.
> 
> Sri K.Anand has written an excellent account of the significance 
> of the pancha SamskAram rituals earlier and he has also
> released it in the latest issue of Nrusimha priyA of 
> North America. Please refer to those articles for 
> the finer details . 
> >
> >For the needs of the Asia Week fest , all of the above details
> on the wearing of the Sri ChUrNam as an important part of 
> the daily rites of a Sri VaishNavA may not be important .
> Emphasis on SoumAngalyam will be the best approach .
> >
> >Best wishes ,
> >V.Sadagopan