S O U RC E :

H T T P S : / / R A M A NA N 5 0 . WO R D P R E S S . CO M / 2 0 1 3 /0 8 / 3 1 /T H E
-T H I RU M A N NA M A M -VA I S H NAVA- M A R K /

THE THIRUMAN,NAMAM
VAISHNAVA MARK

4 Votes

Srivaishnavaites wear Thiruman, Namam , the Urdhva Pundaram ,

is worn as a mark indicating the fact that they worship Lord Vishnu.

Vad
akalai Thiruman.
There are two styles of wearing the Thriuman.
One is called the Vadakalai and the other one is Thenkalai.

The Vadakalai Thiruman has a curve at the bottom, ( the habit of

calling this symbol as U shape must stop as it is irreverent), while
the Thenkalai mark is closed at the bottom and there is the
extension at the bottom.
Generally, the Thiruman is applied on the forehead and it is
auspicious to wear the Thiruman in Twelve places in the Body.
There are twelve Adityas and Vishnu is one of the Adityas.
Adityaanam Aham Vishnu Bhagavad Gita Chapter 10.
Names of the Adityas.
The 12 Adityas

Ruling Month

Solar Month

Dhata

March April

Madhu

Chaitra

Aryama

April May

Madhava

Vaishakha

Mitra

May June

Shukra

Jyeshtha

Varuna

June July

Suchi

Ashadha

Indra

July August

Nabhas

Shravana

Vivasvan

Aug Sept

Nabhasya

Bhadrapada

Tvashtha

Sept Oct

Isha

Ashvina

Lunar Month

Vishnu

Oct Nov

Urja

Karttika

Amshuman

Nov Dec

Sahas

Margasirsha

10

Bhaga

Dec Jan

Sahasya

Pushya

11

Pusha

Jan Feb

Tapas

Magha

12

Parjanja

Feb March

Tapasya

Phalguna

Therefore the Thiruman is applied in Twelve places.

The Thiruman consists of two parts.
The outer white line is from Namakkatti, a type of stone, a form of
Chalk.
A vertical line is placed in the center with either turmeric paste(this
is used by the Vadakalaiyar), while the Thenkalaiyar use a type of
Kumkum made of a mix of Turmeric powder and Lime.
The two white lines represent the Feet of the Lord Vishnu, while the
Sri Churna represents goddess Lakshmi ,his consort.

Thenk
alai Thiruman.
The latter will bring prosperity.
The extra line is made to represent the feet of Lord Vishnu more
graphically or to distinguish the Thenkaliyar in the South.
I think the latter view is correct as the first type, that of a curve at
the bottom is uniform in India except in Tamil Nadu and is prevalent
among those who migrated from Tamilnadu,
Information on this is welcome.