Importance of Tapta Mudradharane
Tapta Mudra Dharana is a Vaishnava dIxe mandated by shAstra. Both shruti-s and smruti-s like Vishnu Rahasya purana, Vayu purana, Padma Purana, Harita, and Parashara smruti extoll the mahimas of tapta mudra dharana. These have been further explained in Chakramimamsa, Yuktimallika by Sri Vadiraja. Sri Vijayindra Tirtha and other guru-s in our lineage have also emphasized the importance of taptamudra.
Taptamudra is a fundamental requirement for a Vaishnava. This Vishnu dixe has two components -- bAhya and antar dIxe. The antar dIxe is to know Bhagavan as Sarvottama, Svatantra, Sarvashakta, Sarvajna, Paraananda, and everything else is under His full control in all times and places. The same Sri Hari, as antaryami, is present in us with Chakra and Shankha.
To obtain *similar* sArUpya moxa, one has to have this Vishnu dixe and practice 'Swami[isha]-dAsa' mental setup [anusandana]in all our worship right from now. Without this mental setup moxa is not possible.
The ABAhya dixe of stamping mudra demonstrate our steadfast faith that not only chetanas but all jada vastu-s belong to Bhagavan. It is the duty of the householder to make sure all his members have proper mudras regularly. This, tapta mudra, along with yajopavita and Urdva pundra, gives a dvija eligibility to execute his varnashrama dharmas. It burns away sins and gives protection from evil forces just as a good citizen gets protection from a great King. Further it paves way for mantra
siddhi.
On the contrary if a person fails to wear it then all of his meritorious deeds will go"
This ritual of Tapta Mudra Dharana is said to purify the body, cleanse one from his past sins. Also, according to learned opinion, this is said to have a positive effect on the nervous system of a person.
The ritual of Tapta Mudra Dharana is a very important for all Vaishnavas. It is as significant as wearing Yagnopavita. It is customary for all Vaishanvas to to undergo this ritual on the first ekadashi of Ashadha Masa
This is due to scriptural injunction. According to Padma Purana and other puranas, tapta mudra should be obtained from a vaishnava guru at the time of initiation to vaishnava mantras and also during the AShADha shayanI ekAdashiand kArtIka prabodhini ekadashis.
The sha~Nkha amd chakra should be first heated and then worn on the both the shoulders. One can wear chakra or both sha~Nkha or chakra or the 5 weapons of viShNu. One should begin any ritual only after wearing these marks.
One who learns the mantra strictly adhering to the above mentioned procedure will attain vaiShnavisM and not otherwise.
One should be stamped with cakra on the right shoulder and sha~Nka on the left shoulder, on the chest and also on the stomach. Like this one should take either 5 or 2 mudras
.
One should chose proper time, place and obtain the mudra from a sadguru. If one takes the mudra himself or from any other unqualified person due to greed or other reasons, he will go to hell along with his guru.
Even Shri Vaishnavas have the custom of getting stamped with heated mudrAs for getting initiated into Vaishnavism. But this is required to be done only once in life time.
Therefore, every person should undergo this important and purifying Vaishnava Deeksha without fail from their respective gurus.
· Tapta Mudra Dharana is a ritual where one gets the embossment of Vishnu’s Mudras on one’s body.
· The Mudra’s are Shankha, Chakra, Gada, Padma
· Mudra Dharana must be undertaken by one and all, irrespective of caste, creed, gender and age
· Mudra Dharana is done annually on the Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of Ashadha month. This Ekadashi is called Shayani Ekadashi and signifies the beginning of Chatur Masya Vrata. It is also done on three subsequent Shukla Ekadashis (for those who could not get it done on the first ocassion)
· Mudra Dharana must be given only by Sanyasis. It should not be done by oneself
· In addition to getting it done annually, it is good if performed on the ocassion of Upanayana for boys and upon marriage for ladies
· For the really weak people, only one Chakra mudra is at least prescribed. For others, at least Shankha and Chakra are prescribed. For the able ones, 5 mudras are prescribed.
· It is preferred to have the mudras made from Gold.
· Sudarshana homa is typically done prior to the Mudra Dharana ceremony
· Gents get the Mudras done on the shoulders, chest and stomach. For ladies, the mudras are embossed on the forearms.
· The importance of Mudra Dharana are mentioned in various scriptures such as the Vayu Purana, Ramamruta Maharnava, etc
· It is not enough to get Mudra Dharana done once. It should be obtained every year (of course, at least once is better than never!)
· Tatpta-mudra-dharana (Heated seal, seal burnt in)
· A devotee's (man's) utmost ambition in his life is to reach liberation (moksha). One of the ways is to achieve the moksha is to get Shri Hari's blessings. There are two things which one has to acquiant himself to shower (get) the Shri Hari's blessings, one is visible knowledge and other is invisble knowledge (paroksha and aparoksha gyana).
Complete devotion is suppose to acquint invisible knowledge and following the one's karma yoga (his duties and responsibilities, varnashrama) is visible knowledge. Karma yoga includes offerings (dana), tirtha yathra (going to holy and sacred places) etc and among these 'Tatpa Mudra Dharana (Tapta-mudra-dharana)' has special prominence and considered to be very sacred in achieving the moksha (apoorva sadana).
· Devotion to Vishnu is considered to be the heart of all good and sacred characters and it is also considered to be very special. One who is the follower of Vishnu (Vaishnavatva) has many special show of his body identity and one of them is Tatpta Mudra Dharana. In ancient scriptures it has been to told that for all class of people it is a must. Like wearing Gopichandana, Urdvapundra and five mudras (pancha mudra) this Tatpa mudra dharana is also considered to be one of identifiable sacred wearing for body culture.
· For any Vaishnava there are five rituals to be followed (pancha samskara) (five samskara's are tapa, nama (name), pundra, yaga and manthra) in that 'tapa' rituals is 'tatpa mudra dharana'(Tapta-mudra-dharana). Tapta-mudra-dharana has special place in chowla (first hair cutting), Upanayana (munji, thread ceremony), Manthropadesha (Initiation of Gayathri hymn). It is said that one should not conduct these sacred ceremonies without Tapta-mudra-dharana.
Every year one should have Tapta-mudra-dharana on shayaniekadashi (ashada shukla ekadashi), shravana dwadashi, Upakarama (changing of threads) and other important occassions. In wearing (fire) Sudarshana wheel will give pleasant tatva knowledge (nirmala tatva gyana). The wearing also helps in purifying the body and soul. 'usshhNaM ushNEna sshItalaM' very popular word also gives meaning that this Tapta-mudra-dharana will solve all samsaric worries and those who wear will cross the samsaric ocean with ease.
· The wearing of Tapta-mudra-dharana has been explained in various spiritual scriptures like R^igveda, Padma Purana, Mahabharatha etc. It is also mentioned in Sumadva Vijaya that Shri Madacharya also blessed his disciples with Tapta-mudra-dharana in Chapter 9 of 39th verse.
· Later at different times great saints and schloars have explained the importance of Tapta-mudra-dharana in their scriptures. Shri Vadiraja in Chakrastuti, Shri Vijayindra Swamy in Tapta Chakra Mimasa, Shri Satyabhinava Tirtha in Ramamrutha MaharNava and its Tika, Shri Kundalagiri Acharya in Taptamudradharana Samarthanam, Shri Chalaarinarasimha Charya in Smruthartha Sagara, Shri Chalaari Shesha Charya in Nirnaya Tatva, Shri Krishna Chary in Smrutimukthavali, and other people have explained the Tapta-mudra-dharana's importance in different ways.
· In Pala shruti of Yukti Mallika of Shri Vadiraja Swamy contains about 72 verses explaining in detail about the importance and greatness Tapta-mudra-dharana, including the pramana from shruti (vedas). This is the first schloastic work on Tapta-mudra-dharana by the great saint.
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Need of Tapta-mudra-dharana:
· For all refinements (samskara) Tapta-mudra-dharana has the first place, for all class, section of people must and should have done burnt wheel and conch shell in their body. For any Brahmin keeping the Yagnopavitha is so necessity like that wearing Tapta-mudra-dharana is also must.
There are two sings for any Vaishnavas, they are bhaya (body) and antara (inside). For body sign Tapta-mudra-dharana and for antara kama (sex, lust), kroda (hatredness) etc removal. For any women wearing a bangles are considered to be auspicious and sacred for her pavitratva; like the same for Vaishnavatva Tapta-mudra-dharana is important, auspicious and sacred.
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Importance of Tapta-mudra-dharana
· One who wears symbols of wheel and conch shell are eligable to study shruthi (vedas) and for all sacred activities. The one who sees the other person wearing wheel and conch shell in the shoulder the person who has seen will be cleared with all sins. Even the demons will run away after seeing the vaishnava symbols.
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Sins of not wearing Tapta-mudra-dharana:
· Those who are not having Tapta-mudra-dharana at regular intervals their learning of schloarly knowledge will become waste. This has been told in the shruthi. Those who are not wearing Tapta-mudra-dharana according to the specification their yagnopavitha (janiwara), shika bhandana (hair tieing), Urdvapundra and other symbols will also become waste.
Those who does all sacred performance without Tapta-mudra-dharana the out come of these good things will reach the demons. The Brahaman (vipra) who does not have Tapta-mudra-dharana will have demon presence with him. Those who bow to a person who doesnot have Tapta-mudra-dharana from his preceptor will acquire sins of reaching Naraka for three hundred kalpas.
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Annual Tapta-mudra-dharana:
· Every year during the upakarma one has to have Tapta-mudra-dharana. The auspicious time for putting the Tapta-mudra-dharana is 'jataka karma', later chowla, upanayana and initiation of Gayathri hymn. For ladies wedding time is most auspicious time of wearing Tapta-mudra-dharana.
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Tapta-mudra-dharana at death time
· Those who are wearing Tapta-mudra-dharana nearing their death time will not have the fear of Yama and his messengers. (Brahmanda Purana)
· Devataas will also have Tapta-mudra-dharana
· Brahma, Rudra, Indra and all devataas and Prahlada, Vibhshana, Mandatha, Ambarish, Markandeya and many Bhagavatha experts are always wearing the vaishnava symbols. In Yukti Mallika it has been told that on shravana Dwadashi, Prathama Ekadashi and other auspicious days devataas will have wearing of Tapta-mudra-dharana.
· Who has to wear Tapta-mudra-dharana (who are all eligable) :
· Tapta-mudra-dharana is for all class of people, all sections of people and for ladies it is a must. In all sacred ceremonies like jataka karama's Tapta-mudra-dharana is necessary. It is one's one duty to wear on annually on Prathama Ekadashi (Ashada shudda Ekadashi) along with his entire family members.
Even it is also said that house hold things also should put wheel and conch shell symbol. Those who are wearing Tapta-mudra-dharana will have the residence of Shri Hari. All class and section of people includes Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vysya, Shudra (classified according to varnashrama) and ladies also.
· Who are all authorised to put Tapta-mudra-dharana :
· ONLY Heads of Mutts, who should be saint (seer) are authorised and are eligable to put the Tapta-mudra-dharana to their disciples. It is understood that Shri Madhwacharya in one form will stay in these saints and are giving his blessings to their disciples. Gruhastas (head of the family, family man) are not authorised and eligable to put this to other members.
Any Vaishnava has to take Tapta-mudra-dharana from their Mutt seer who they belong to. Even spare saints (bidi sanyasi, one who doesnot belong to any famous mutt like ashta mutt, Vyasaraja Mutt, Raghavendra Mutt, Uttaradi Mutt etc) are not authorised to put this to others.
This has been told clearly in Shri Satyabhinava Tirtha's work. Even there is no mention in any of the scriptures that any body who has weared Tapta-mudra-dharana by himself. This is also proved that gruhasta does not have any authority to give Tapta-mudra-dharana.
· Proceedures for putting Tapta-mudra-dharana :
· The one who is authorised to put Tapta-mudra-dharana has to worship Sudarshana and wheel, conch shell conceited (abhimani) devataa then it has to be put in the fire. Then it has to be done yagna (fire offer) with different weapon hymn.
Twenty times it has to be offered (ahuti). Then along with the disciples he has to go around and bow to the yagna's place. He has to sit facing north with pleasant and peace of mind and then he has to put with the same symbols to his disciples.
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Tapta-mudra-dharana manthra (hymns) :
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Chakra Dharana Manthra (wheel);
sudar^shana mahAjwala kOtisU^rya samaprabha |
aGYnA.ndasya mE nithyAM visNOma^rgaM pr^ada^rshaya ||
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Sha.nkha Dharana Manthra (conch shell):
pA.nchajanya nijadhvandvastapAtakasa.nchaya |
pAhi mAM narAkAd GHOrAt samsArAN^rnatAraNa ||
· Sudarshana and pancha janya mudras are should be made out of gold and while preparing also there is a clear cut proceedure how it should look like. It has been mentioned in the Yukta Mallika that conch shell symbol should be of rajatha (pure gold). But it has been practised that these symbols are in silver these days.
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Conceited Devataas (Chakrabhimani devataas):
· For wheel symbol Durga is the abhimani, for conch shell it is Shri Devi, for Padma symbol its Bhu Devi and for Gada it is Vayu. It is been understood that by wearing these conceited devataas one will be removed the agyana, mithya gyana (mis conception, lack of knowledge etc) and will acquire Tatva gyana and fruit ful knowledge.
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Number of Mudras wearing:
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· Those who cannot wear (ashakta) has to have minimum of wheel (chakra) symbol. Those who can wear will have wheel and conch shell symbol and those will very much have (ativa shaktya) will have all five symbols. (those who practised wearing five mudras are called (familiar) with chakra pancha mudra dharana vidhi smaraka)
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Places of wearing the symbols:
· In the right arm wheel symbol, left arm conch shell, centre of the bridge (between right and left arm) gada, in the heart place it is nandaka and on the top of the head (skull) shAgr^ya.
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Background of Tapta Mudra Dharana (Tapta-mudra-dharana):
· Once upon time Indra and other devataas were defeated by the demon called V^ruth^rasura. Then they all went to Shri Vishnu and requested him to remove this defeat. Then Shri Narayana told all of them to wear his symbols like wheel and conch shell and go and fight with him again.
And also assured all them that all demons will lose by the presence and power of these symbols and winning is certain. Later they will win over the demons by wearing these sacred symbols. From then on all Vaishnava community are wearing these sacred symbols to win over any thing and eveything. This wearing not only win over with the enemy but also win over kama, kroda etc.
· Each topic has been supported by pramana taken from the shrutis and other great schloarly works with its original hymns in kannada. Other than that the book also contains the complete stotras of Chakra Stuti by Shri Vadiraja Swamy, Sahastrara Stuti of Shri Vadiraja Swamy and Sudarshana Shruti of Shri Ambarisha.
On the contrary if a person fails to wear it then all of his meritorious deeds will go to
waste. This demostrates the great importance that is given to taptamudra.
It is traditional to get Tapta mudra Dharana from a Vaishnava Guru on the prathama
ekadashi day of Ashada.
The tapta mudra dharana is for all Vaishnava-s but the
procedure varies depending on the varna, gender and age. Harita-smruti says that a
sadhaka has to get the mudra every year just as how a vipra observes upAkarma every
year.
Even devatas have this vaishnava marking on them.
As per ritual, the Bhagavan in Shankha-Chakra are worhipped along with abhimani
devatas in homa 108 times with ghee or til mixed ghee. It is given by a guru or mahan
purushas (exalted beings). Heated mudra is given upon prarthana. Healthy dvijas should
have 5 mudras while the weak should have atleast one chakra. For children one on the stomach and for married women only on
hands.
For the rest, the dixe is given as per rules explained in smruti-s.
Tapta mudhradharane is a special ritual practiced by Vaishnavites in Hindu Society.Every year on some auspicious days (i.e Ashaada Shukla Ekadashi(mostly month of july) and next three subsequent Shukla Ekadashis) it is done in mutts.
Its a special ritual in which tapta (heated) mudras (seals) are put on one’s body.The Mudra’s are Shankha, Chakra, Gada, Padma which are ornaments/instruments of Lord Vishnu.
Though generally it is practiced by only Vaishnavites, it can be taken by one and all, irrespective of caste, creed, gender and age.The chakra is stamped on the right arm, while the shanka is stamped on the left arm.
In the case of women, the seals are stamped only on their arms and in case of men it is stamped on chest and stomach also.
Tapta Mudras must be given only by Sanyasis/Swamijis of Mutts except in some special cases.Irki Mutt (Near Puttur) is one such special mutt where Head of the Mutt Shri Venkataramana Upadhyaru also gives tapta mudhradharana to devotees.It is believed that Sri Madhwacharya will stay in these saints and are giving his blessings to their disciples.
So why it is done?
People believe that it purifies the body and soul.Its also said that since mudras are symbols of Lord Vishnu it will protect you from all evils.Scientifically it builds resistance in the body against the diseases.
Irki Mutt which is in Ramakunja near Subhramanya,is the only mutt (as far as I know) where mudras are given to devotees even though the head of the mutt is not sanyasi.
In this mutt you can also see the God Shri Kesava Devaru ( Idol of Sri Lord Kesava) given to them by Shri Madhwacharya.There is a pond close to mutt.
Story says once when the pond was dried Shri Madhwacharya put his Dandam/stick in side this pond and water came from that.After that the pond never dried it seems.Till now they used the same water for doing pooja to Lord Kesava Devaru.The head of this mutt Shri Venkataramana Upadhyaru and his children follow the same traditions and every year there would be tapta mudra dharana will happen here which is open to all. sri krisharnapanamastu
