Dvādaśa Ūrdhva Puṇḍra — The Twelve Sacred Body Marks
Dvādaśa ūrdhva puṇḍra (Sanskrit: dvādaśa = twelve + ūrdhva = upward/vertical + puṇḍra = mark; 'the twelve upward-pointing marks') refers to the twelve ūrdhva puṇḍra (Nāmam) marks applied daily on twelve specific parts of the body by initiated Śrī Vaiṣṇavas. Each mark is applied with white thirumaN (sacred clay) with a vertical stroke, and many add the śrīcūrṇam (red turmeric powder in the centre).
The Twelve Body Sites and Their Presiding Deities:
- Forehead (lalāṭa) — Keśava
- Abdomen (udarā) — Nārāyaṇa
- Chest (vakṣa) — Mādhava
- Throat (kaṇṭha) — Govinda
- Right shoulder (dakṣiṇa-skandha) — Viṣṇu
- Left shoulder (vāma-skandha) — Madhusūdana
- Right upper arm (dakṣiṇa-bāhu) — Trivikrama
- Left upper arm (vāma-bāhu) — Vāmana
- Right lower arm (dakṣiṇa-bāhū) — Śrīdhara
- Left lower arm (vāma-bāhū) — Hṛṣīkeśa
- Upper back (pṛṣṭha) — Padmanābha
- Lower back (kaṭi) — Dāmodara
Inner Meaning: By marking the body with twelve forms of Bhagavān's names, the devotee consecrates the entire body as Bhagavān's temple. 'Wherever these marks are, Bhagavān is — the body becomes His residence.' The twelve names together constitute an acknowledgment of Bhagavān's full lordship over every part of the devotee's physical existence.