Re: questions for śrī vaiṣṇava intitiates
Originally Posted by
anucarh
śrīmate rāmānujāya namaḥ
Namaste,
One of the three Hindu traditions that I'm most interested in is the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition. I've been studying the fivefold initiation process (pa�ca-saṃskāra) and I hope that someone here who has experienced it would be willing to answer a few questions.
The first stage (tāpa) I see involves receiving the marks of Lord Viṣṇu's conch (śaṇkha) and discus (cakra) from heated metal, typically copper or silver, just as it was done in Śrī Rāmānujācārya's time. What is this experience like? How was the recovery process? Did you take time off from work for a couple of weeks to heal? What has the branding of the conch and discus meant to you personally? How is life different after your initiation? I understand that the initiation enables you to practice the 5 daily observances (pa�cakāla-prakriyā). I would appreciate any honest encouragement or comments you have to offer, as a Śrī Vaiṣṇava.
Thank you in advance to the kind person willing to share the experience.
praṇām
Namaste Ji,
I have not taken initiation so I can't answer most of the questions but my family members(women, so I did not see the mudras myself) have taken Sri Vaishnavam.The only thing I can tell is I don't think it hurts a lot and it will heal soon.I think mantra diksha is given and they do chant some stotras daily,wear the namam(Urdhva Pundra ),study scriptures daily(Pasurams I think),Bhagavad Gita,Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Parayana,Andal Tiruppavai etc.They collect flowers for Puja quite early in the morning,when I was a kid it was funny to see women collecting every single flower available,later I knew it was for Puja and not for themselves.I never asked them the above questions as they are my mother's side relatives,I will ask them soon.They go on Nagara Sankirtana(chanting and singing about Lord Vishnu while going around the temple surrounding areas before sunrise)every week and I join them sometimes,I am not sure if this is compulsory but they never avoid it,rain or shine.
Edit: I forgot to mention that they always say Narayana a million times every day,when greeting others,when answering phone calls and even when they want to scold .
Last edited by Ram11; 23 August 2014 at 03:59 AM.
He dances in the golden hall of Chidambaram, Let us worship His rosy anklet girt Feet.
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