Threaded...

It's been very hectic day today (actually yesterday, it's already 12AM)! Got up at 4:30Am in the morning and not yet slept! will probably sleep in about 45 minutes from now... I sat in front of "Homakundam", the fire altar which is the symbol of ancient Vedic rites, continuously from 6:00AM till 12:00PM ! It had been very hectic on the previous day (sunday) also :-(. Finally, my "Upanayanam" is done! Just now i almost got a shock when my father told me that i have to get "ChakrAngitham" done after sunrise!

ChakrAngitham is essential for performing all rituals dear to Lord Vishnu as his disciples. Chakrangitham is Bearing on our upper arms , the imprint of holy chakraa (Sudarshanam ) , (the imprint) caused by the special consecrated instrument with the red-hot-wheel emblem , which is blazing more fiercely than fire! Along with the Chakram, the Shankham(the divine conch shell) will also be imprinted! Lord Vishnu bears both of these instruments in his hands.

The process of imprinting these is very painful as i have heard from my elders... The die containing these symbols will be heated up in fire and will be pressed aginst the upper arms! The skin burns off and the tattoo remains for at least 10 years! My sleep swept away just listening to these explanations! Off to bed now...