On the ocassion of Shayani Ekadashi and Tapta Mudra Dharana this Monday, I thought of jotting down a few lines about this special ritual. I was going through the book “Sadachara Vinoda” by Sri Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya and he has provided an amazing amount of information about this.
- Tapta Mudra Dharana is a ritual where one gets the embossment of Vishnu’s Mudras on one’s body.
- The Mudra’s are Shankha, Chakra, Gada, Padma
- Mudra Dharana must be undertaken by one and all, irrespective of caste, creed, gender and age
- Mudra Dharana is done annually on the Ekadashi of Shukla Paksha of Ashadha month. This Ekadashi is called Shayani Ekadashi and signifies the beginning of Chatur Masya Vrata. It is also done on three subsequent Shukla Ekadashis (for those who could not get it done on the first ocassion)
- Mudra Dharana must be given only by Sanyasis. It should not be done by oneself
- In addition to getting it done annually, it is good if performed on the ocassion of Upanayana for boys and upon marriage for ladies
- For the really weak people, only one Chakra mudra is at least prescribed. For others, at least Shankha and Chakra are prescribed. For the able ones, 5 mudras are prescribed.
- It is preferred to have the mudras made from Gold.
- Sudarshana homa is typically done prior to the Mudra Dharana ceremony
- Gents get the Mudras done on the shoulders, chest and stomach. For ladies, the mudras are embossed on the forearms.
- The importance of Mudra Dharana are mentioned in various scriptures such as the Vayu Purana, Ramamruta Maharnava, etc
- It is not enough to get Mudra Dharana done once. It should be obtained every year (of course, at least once is better than never!)
Anandatirtha Prathishtana 
Dear Shri Hari,
The sight of new power project near Uchila brings sadness to me. I dont know what more are yet to come. I am scared by the thought of it. There are no more dense forests in that region which I was (and am even now for the rest of the place) proud of for its ever green nature thereby giving peace to mind. I hope there will be no more deforestation and deterioration of our Tulunadu culture in the name of development. You are doing your bit in preserving the same (thanks to Lord Shri Hari for blessing you to take such an initiative thereby benifitting all of us and also for giving us the thought to contribute to it)and i shall do mine which in no way can be compared to your effort. Let Lord Shri Hari bless us with the capacity to preserve and spread Shri Madhva Sampradaya and our Tulunadu cluture.
Regards, Raghavendra
Namaskara Raghavendra,
And I read recently that another new one is coming up at Gundya, right in the heart of the Western Ghats!
Western Ghats is one of the 11 bio diversity hotspots of the world. Every single step taken in this region should be weighed against possible consequences, 50 or 100 years down the line. I am scared no such due diligences are being carried out.
Regards, Hari