Samashrayana


The samashrayana or the panchasamskara is a Hindu sacrament generally associated with the Sri Vaishnava tradition. It consists of five rites of initiation performed by a shishya to be formally initiated into the tradition by an acharya.

Etymology

Samāśrayaṇam is Sanskrit for, "taking refuge with God".

Description

The samashryana consists of the five rites according to Sri Vaishnava tradition:
  1. Tapa - The embossing of the impression of Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra on the right shoulder of the initiate and the Panchajanya 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 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.