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Religious, Cultural and Social Aspects of Sri Vaisnavism

Part 1

Samasharayanam / Panca Samaskaram - The 5 Sacraments

Any one can be a Sri Vaisnava regardless of race, caste, gender or religious affiliations. However, one has to undergo a formal ritual of initiation known as samasharayanam or panca samskaram. This is requirement prescribed in the vaisnava panca ratra agama text.

The 5 sacraments adminsitered are as follows:

1) Dasya nama - Initiated disciple given a 'spiritual' name of Vishnu, suffixed with the word dasa (servant) e.g Vishnu dasa.

All vaisnavas are equal in the eyes of the Lord and there are no differences based on caste or social status. In the vedic arrangement dasa is a suffixed added to the sudhras, so amongs sri vaisnavas everyone is a servant and thus the entire society is one an equal level.

2) Pundram- A sectarian mark which represents the feet of the Lord marked in white clay (tiruman) upon the forehead and 12 parts of the body. The centre line is drawn in red (sricuna) and represents Laksmi.

3) Thapanam- Special branding on the shoulders of the conch (Panchajaya) and disc (Chakra) of Vishnu by the guru. This is intended to purify one from sins and render the body fit for devotional service. It marks one's for the life as a servant and the property of the Lord.

4) Yaga- Learning to do ritualistic Deity worship.

5) Mantra upadesa- Receiving the 3 sacred mantras (rahasya trayam) from the guru for daily recitation.

One needs to seek a spiritual perceptor (acarya/guru) in order to be initiated into the Sampradayam. No knowledge is considered valid unless it comes from a guru who belongs to the lineage and actually lives and practices the spiritual life. There is nothing that can be added or substracted from the teachings of the great spiritual masters namely Ramanuja. Therefore all comtemporary acaryas must confine themselves to re-interpreting the teachings of Ramanuja to suit modern life - not inventing new doctrines.