The samashrayana (
Sanskrit: समाश्रयणम्,
romanized: Samāśrayaṇam) or the panchasamskara (
Sanskrit: पञ्चसंस्कार,
romanized: Pañcasaṃskāra)[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
Samāśrayaṇam is
Sanskrit for, "taking refuge with God".[4]
Description
The samashryana consists of the five rites according to Sri Vaishnava tradition:[5][6]
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.
Puṇḍra - The application of the Vaishnava
tilaka, the
urdhva pundra, on twelve sacred locations of the body associated with Vishnu.
Nāma - The introduction of the suffix dasan (servant) to the initiate's new name, offered by the preceptor.
Mantra - The teaching of the
Ashtakshara mantra and other sacred Vaishnava incantations.
Yajña - The instruction of the proper method of worshipping God.