Samashrayana

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The samashrayana (Sanskrit: समाश्रयणम्, romanizedSamāśrayaṇam) or the panchasamskara (Sanskrit: पञ्चसंस्कार, romanizedPañcasaṃskāra)[1] is a Hindu sacrament generally associated with the Sri Vaishnava tradition.[2] It consists of five rites of initiation performed by a shishya (disciple) to be formally initiated into the tradition by an acharya (preceptor).[3]

Etymology

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Samāśrayaṇam is Sanskrit for, "taking refuge with God".[4]

Description

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The samashryana consists of the five rites according to Sri Vaishnava tradition:[5][6]

  1. Tapa - The embossing of the impression of Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra (discus) on the right shoulder of the initiate and the Panchajanya (conch) on the left shoulder of the initiate.
  2. Puṇḍra - The application of the Vaishnava tilaka, the urdhva pundra, on twelve sacred locations of the body associated with Vishnu.
  3. Nāma - The introduction of the suffix dasan (servant) to the initiate's new name, offered by the preceptor.
  4. Mantra - The teaching of the Ashtakshara mantra and other sacred Vaishnava incantations.
  5. Yajña - The instruction of the proper method of worshipping God.

References

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