BRILLIANT EXPLANATION FROM SADAGOPAN.ORG EDITION OF "SHREE VARADA-RAJA-STAVAM":
uddharati upari bhaktajanAn iti UrdhvatASrayaNasUcita Saktim |
UrdhvapuNDra tilakam bahumAnAt kim bibharshi varada! svalalATe ||
TRANSLATION: "Our SAstrAs say that
any one performing vaidIka karmAs without UrdhvapuNDram (tirumaN) will not gain the phalan of that karmA and his efforts will be wasted like the offerings (AhUti) made in the ashes (sAmbhal instead of Agni): "snAnam dAnam japo homa: svAdyAya:, bhasmI bhavati tat sarvam UrdhvapuNDram vinA krtam".
any one performing vaidIka karmAs without UrdhvapuNDram (tirumaN) will not gain the phalan of that karmA and his efforts will be wasted like the offerings (AhUti) made in the ashes (sAmbhal instead of Agni): "snAnam dAnam japo homa: svAdyAya:, bhasmI bhavati tat sarvam UrdhvapuNDram vinA krtam".
Here KUresar wonders why the Lord wears the UrdhvapuNDram, when He has no need for the performance of any vaidIka karmA.
He is an "avApta sakala kAman" and not a karma vasyan like us, the samsAris. Yet He wears the UrdhvapuNDram.
KUresar gives the reasons for His adorning UrdhvapuNDram on His forehead.
MEANING: "Oh Lord! Your aDiyArs adorn UrdhvapuNDrams on their foreheads reminding one of the shape of the Lord's sacred feet on the hoods of kALiya sarpam.
You adorn the same shaped UrdhvapuNDram reaching upward. Why so, when You are outside the influence of karmAs?
By adorning the UrdhvapuNDram, You indicate that it uplifts one and provides the pathway to the upper world. You seem to remember the saubhAgyam that this symbol provides to Your aDiyArs and out of recognition for that help, You also adorn the UrdhvapuNDram".
COMMENTS: "SrI nAradIyam gives the reasons for wearing the UrdhvapuNDram and its effect on the sinners:
Urdhva gatyAm hi yasyeSca tasyordhvam puNDramuncyate, UrdhvagatyA tu devatvam prApnotIha na samSaya:, Urdhvam nayati yat puNDram prANina: pApakAriNa:, tasyAkhyA Urdhva puNDreti tasmAt tad dhArayet buda:
The passage says the UrdhvapuNDram is recommended for those, who desire the upper lokams. That is why it is called Upward (Urdhva) proceeding sign. There is no doubt that the wearing of the UrdhvapuNDram confers the status of the devAs. For the sinners, this adornment leads them to the upper lokams. Therefore, one should wear it without fail".
Cited from "Shree Varadaraja stavam v2" -
