Very SpeciFic Mudras .

1. One of the important rituals associated with
Vaishnavas is to put on the “marks of Vishnu”
on the body every day.
This consists of putting the “Urdhva Pundra”
and the “Mudras”.
The UrdhvapunDra Dharana (putting on Urdhava Pu
using the Gopichandana and
applying the same to 12 parts of the body
i.e forehead, lower abdomen (center, left and right)
chest, both arms, the neck (center, left and right),

2. lower back and below the neck at the back.
extols the practice of applying UrdhvapunDra using
punDra in the colloquial sense means a symbol on
the body that indicates the sampradAya that one fol
Sanskrit punDra means one that ‘eliminates
indiscipline (as in punDatana in kannada) and
brings about a sense of discipline and a binding to a
(punDam rAhayati iti punDram).
The punDra which is drawn vertical is the
UrdhvapunDra and the one drawn horizontal is the t
Though the tiryakpunDra is a Shaivaite symbol the U
only a vaishnavaite symbol but represents the entire
ancient scholar named rAghava bhatta in his comme
says that

3. UrdhvapunDra is a symbol used to obtain
vEdAdhikAra (vEdAdhikAra sidhyartham
UrdhvapunDra dhAraNam).
Dwadasha Nama (Marking 12 parts of the body)
One of the important rituals associated with Vaishna
“marks of Vishnu” on the body every day. This cons
“Urdhva Pundra” and the “Mudras”. The Urdhva Pun
(putting on Urdhava Pundra) consists of using the G
applying the same to 12 parts of the body i.e forehe
(center, left and right), chest, both arms, the neck (
right), lower back and below the neck at the back.
Similarly, the 5 mudras have to be applied to the 12
above.

4. Procedure to apply Gopi Namas and Mudras
Place a spoon of water on the left hand palm, take a
gopichandana, rub vigorously and prepare a paste o
Chant the following mantra:
gopicandana papana visnudeha samudbhava |
cakrankita namastestu dharana muktido bhava
Apply the gopichandana paste at 12 places in the bo
one on forehead, three on abdomen, one on chest, o
shoulders, all 4 parts of neck, one on bottom of bac
trunk and one on top of head. Then, one more is ap
side of the chest.
Some people do also apply a similar final mark on th
chest, if this is the tradition that they have been tau
sampradaaya (custom). While applying, recite Kesh

5. dwadashanama, one naama each for one application
on the forehead (keshavaaya namaH),
center of abdomen (naaraayaNaaya namaH),
chest (maadhavaaya namaH),
right side of abdomen (vishhNave namaH),
right shoulder (madhusudhanaaya namaH),
right side of neck (trivikramaaya namaH),
left side of abdomen (vaamanaaya namaH),
left shoulder (shriidharaaya namaH),
left side of neck (hR^ishhiikeshaaya namaH),
back side (above tunk) (padmanaabhaaya namaH),

6. back side of neck (daamodaraaya namaH)
and on the head,
on the chest (shriivatsaaya namaH).
On the forehead : one set of vertical parallel lines
(first apply the paste with the forefinger and
later run through it with a wet cloth/finger).
On the chest: heart (lotus leaf) shape.

7. Concentrate on the mantra and quickly go through t
applying the paste instead of trying to perfect the sh

8. After applying gopichandana, apply mudras in the following
Chakra mudra

9. It is applied in the chintanye of Ambarisavarada for
sat-buddhi to follow Dharma.
Chant the following mantra while applying chakra m
sudarshana mahajwala kotisoorya samaprabha
agnandhasyame nithyam vishnOrmaargam pra
one on right side of eye, five on centre of abdomen,
on right of abdomen, three on right of chest, two on
sides of naama, two on right of neck, one on front o
shoulder below the naama.

10. It is applied in the chintanye of dhruva varada
for jnana prapthi and to get the
blessings of goddess Lakshmi.

11. Chant the following mantra while applying chakra m
paanchajanya nijadhwana dvamstapaathaka n
traahimaam paapinam GorasamsaaraarNava p
one on left side of eye, one on left of abdomen, two
on left shoulder both sides of naama, two on left of
shoulder below the naama.

12. Gadaa mudra
It is applied in the chintanye of vayu varada for vai
get control over desires.
Chant the following mantra while applying chakra m
brahmaanda bhuvanaaramba mUlastambO gad
kaumOdakI karEyusya tham namaami gadaadh
one on forehead, one on left of abdomen, one on lef
left shoulder both sides of naama below shankha mu

13. Padma mudra
It is applied in the chintanye of lakshmee varada fo
prapthi and to get peace and tranquility.
Chant the following mantra while applying chakra m
samsaara bhayabEEtaanam yOginaamabhayap
padmahastEna yO dEvO yOgIsham tham nama

14. Two on chest, two on right abdomen, two on right s
of naama below chakra mudra.
NaaraayaNa mudra:
naarayana mudre hachidavanannu bhakthiyinda nod
Chant the following mantra while applying chakra m

15. naarayana namastEstu naamamudraamkitam n
druStyava labhatE mukthim chamdaalO brahm
One each overlapping on all mudras, and naama.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

16. ||shrIH kRuShNArpaNamstu||