140 
interval, they get it done every time they see their Guru. 
There is with Madhvas no restriction as to the age at 
which the ceremony should be performed. Even a new- 
born babe, after the pollution period of ten days, must 
receive the mark of the chakra, if the Guru should turn 
up. Boys before the upanayanam, and girls before 
marriage, are branded with the chakra on the abdomen 
just above the navel. The copper or brass branding 
instruments (mudras) are not heated to a very high 
temperature, but sufficient to singe the skin, and leave 
a deep black mark in the case of adults, and a light 
mark in that of young people and babies. In some 
cases, disciples, who are afraid of being hurt, bribe the 
person who heats the instruments; but, asa rule, the 
Guru regulates the temperature so as to suit the indi- 
vidual. If, for example, the disciple is a strong, well- 
built man, the instruments are well heated, and, if he is 
a weakling, they are allowed to cool somewhat before 
their application. If the operator has to deal with 
babies, he presses the instrument against a wet rag 
before applying it to the infant’s skin. Some Matathi- 
pathis (head priests of the mutt) are, it is said, inclined 
to be vindictive, and to make a very hot application of 
the instruments if the disciple has not paid the fee 
(gurukanika) to his satisfaction. The fee is not fixed in 
the case of Sri Vaishnavas, whereas Madhvas are 
expected to pay from one to three months’ income for 
being branded. Failure to pay is punished with ex- 
communication on some pretext or other. The area of 
skin branded generally peels oft within a week, leaving 
a pale mark of the mudra, which either disappears in a 
few months, or persists throughout life. Madhvas should 
stamp mudras with gopi paste * daily on various parts of 
the body. The names of these mudras are chakra, 
chank or sankha, gatha (the weapon of war used by 
Bhima, one of the Pandavas), padma (lotus), and 
Narayana. The chakra is stamped thrice on the abdo- 
men above the navel, twice on the right flank, twice 
on the right side of the chést above the nipple, twice 
on the right arm, once on the right temple, once on 
* Properly gofi chandiram, a paste made of white kaolin mixed with 
sandalwood. 
