HH Tridandi Sriman Narayana Jeeyar Swamiji answers to devotees questions

Collection of HH Tridandi Sriman Narayana Jeeyar Swamiji answers to devotees questions (link)
ThirumaN & SrEEChurnam:

Q1. ThirumaN & SrEEChurnam: I would like to know the Spiritual & physical (if any)
reasons for applying Dwadasa Pundras (12 Thirumans). How long ago did the practice Start. (The coloring of SreeChurnam to make it Red in color could not have been aNadi (forever in the past)) Why are there various forms of applying the Thiruman? Are there references in our Puranas on how, where and when to apply Dwadasha pundras?

Answer)
The practice of wearing Thiruman started long ago. It is so evident in Pa:dma Samhitha of Sri Pa:nchara:tra A:gama, which clearly describes Narayana, who is to be meditated upon in A:ra:dhana, having U:rdhwapundram along with all other jewellary and weapons.

Here we quote
" Sri:bhu:mi sahitham de:vam lala:tay swe:tha mrutsnaya|
krutho:rdhwapundra thilakaihi manditham chenrabhanubhihi||
niyuthai rayuthais chendraih vidyut ka:la:gni ko:tibhihi|
samave:thai rivaikatra te:jah punjair visarpibhihi||
bhrajama:nam dura;lo:ham de:hamandala nirgathaih|
bha:sayantham jagath sarvam dhya:ye:th prakshi:na kalmashaha||"

Here in the above slo:kas Lord has been described having so many u:rdwa pundra:s along with Sri:de:vi & Bhu:de:vi. And that pundra thilakas' shining is so illuminating the whole universe with their moon-light like prabha.

Other than Pa:dma Samhitha, we can see the mentioning of u:rdhwa pundrams in other samhithas also. A:gamas are considered as more authentic  scriptures even by The Ve:das. Cha:ndo:gyo:panishad
mentions about it  in Na:rada & Sanathkuma:ra discussion.

Regarding color of the pundram, in the above slo:kas it is mentioned to have in 'white'(swe:tha mruth) and the middle one should be in 'light red' (may be a little dark pink) here again Pa:dma Samhitha says 'lala:ta thilakam sowmyam di;pavath swe:tha mrutsnaya'  and it goes like that. The process to make
the middle red one is followed by using termaric powder.

Termaric powder is not supposed to be used directly. It has to be purified. The way to do that is to add it with lemon juice and another substance called 'veliga:ram' (what the english term for it? may be crystal) This veliga:ram has to be purified again on fire. Then it becomes powder like. All these three things will be mixed up and dried in shade, not under sun.

That is what people call as 'sri:chu:rnam'. With that the middle one like flame on the fire, to be applied.

The places to apply the pundras are 12 in number.  One on the fore head, four all around the neck, two  on shoulders, one on chest, three at the stomach and one at the end of the spinal card. There are the key part of the body. They need to be sanctified by applying pundram and chanting His name (there are 12 ke:sava etc names used to all these 12 pundras).

Whenever we take a shower in the morning, we decorate with 12 pundras. It is enough to decorate once a day, not after the food is taken (like in the evening times).

When we talk about the significance, we go through the sa:stras and that is all. We can say a few reasons, of course, but confining to scriptures is really beautiful.

For our satisfaction few things are told they are:

1. If one has pundras, he cannot do unwanted things. If he tries to do, the society around will not allow him to do so.

2. It is a mark of respect to say that we belong to Lord Lakshmi Na:ra:yana.

3. Those parts of the body may be activated in  satwic way by which we can think and do better activities.

4. If we wear those pundras we become Srivaishnavas and it seems, the god of death 'Yamaraj' will never look at us, according to Maha Bharat.