Panca Samskara

It so happen that we could watch the ceremony of initation in Sri Vaishnavism, by Sri Annan Kovil Swamy in his Temple shrine/Srirangam. Those initation (Samshrayanam) differs from the Pancaratra Diksha in different ways, but is given freely to everyone who desires it. Where the Pancaratra Diksha only is given to the next priest generations. But samskaras and the meaning are the same (except that the priest is made eligible to do temple seva/worship for the community)! Getting the path way back to Godhead, Paramapadam (Sri Vaikuntham)is the only meaning of Initation by the Guru. The five samskaras in the initation ceremony are: "Nama" a Name what connects the sishya (disciple) with the identity of a servant of God, "Pundra" Tilak marks (12 special marks applied to recognize the body as a place of residence of the Lord) made from holy clay from rivers like Ganges or holy watertanks, "Tapa" hot brandings of the symbol of Lord Vishnu (firewheel and Conch) on the shoulders, "Mantra" a holy syllable to recite daily - like a prayer - (Tirumantra 8 sylable of Lord Narayana) and "Yaga" worship or offering everything (thought, mind, desires, bodily activities etc.). The ceremony to watch was very trilling, as one could feel the stress of the sishyas meeting with all the 5 samskaras. A small homa was made, the branding were made hot, and the air filled with smoke. After the screaming of the branded* (actually it is not so painful!), they where left alone in front of the Lord, did their 10 minutes (!) namaskarams straight, and those time was really good. Everyone was silent, and could feel how Lord Narayana was watching his newly residents of Vaikuntam.