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into Vaishnavism after the Upanayanam ceremony or 
investment with the sacred thread, in the belief that it 
is the duty of all of their creed to carry throughout 
life a memorial of their god upon their person. To 
effect this, resort is had to branding with heated copper 
seals made in the conventional form of the various 
symbols of Vishnu. 
Members of this sect are not compelled to undergo 
this ordeal more than once during their lifetime, but 
the Madhva sect which comprises chiefly Canarese- 
speaking Brahmans, have to submit to it as often as 
they visit their Guru. Men of other castes who become 
followers of a Vaishnava or a Madhva Acharya (Guru) 
are expected to present themselves before the Guru for 
the purpose of being branded. But the ceremony is 
optional and not compulsory as in the case of a Brahman. 
Even the women in Vaishnavite families must submit to 
this branding ; in their case it takes place after marriage 
in the case of Sri Vaishnavites, while among the 
Madhvas one form of branding should be performed at 
any age before marriage should the Guru visit the 
neighbourhood, and a more formal one again after 
marriage. Regarding Sri Vaishnavites, Thurston (1., 
370) states that “the disciples after a purificatory 
bath and worship of their gods, proceed to the residence 
of the Acharya, or to the mutt where they are initiated 
into their religion, and branded with the chakra on the 
right shoulder and with the chank on the left. The 
initiation consists in imparting to the disciple, in a very 
low tone, the Mula Mantram, the word Namonara- 
yanaya, the sacred syllable Om, and a few mantrams 
from the Brahma Rahasyam (Secrets about God). A 
person who has not been initiated thus is regarded as 
unfit to take part in the ceremonies which have to be 
performed by Brahmans. Even close relations, if 
orthodox, will refuse to take food prepared or touched 
by the uninitiated.” 
As Vaishnavite Gurus are few in number, it is 
necessary for them to peregrinate the country, halting 
at suitable centres to brand those. of their followers 
living in the neighbourhood just as a Bishop in certain 
Christian churches tours his diocese to afford confirma- 
tion (z.¢., initiation) services at periodical intervals. In 
