Pancha Samskara — Five Vaishnava Rites
पञ्चसंस्काराः
The five initiatory rites of the Pancharatra/Sri Vaishnava tradition that mark a person as a Vaishnava: (1) Tapa — branding with conch (Shankha) and discus (Chakra) marks on shoulders; (2) Pundra — application of Urdhvapundra (vertical tilak with Vishnu symbols); (3) Nama — receiving the name of Vishnu; (4) Mantra — initiation into the Ashtakshara; (5) Yaga — performing Vishnu worship/yajna.
Shlokas (1)
+ Add ShlokaThe Five Samskaras of Initiation
Vishnu Tilak Samhita / Pancharatra Agama
ताप: पुण्ड्रस्तथा नाम मन्त्रो यागश्च पञ्चमः। एते पञ्च विशेषाख्याः संस्काराः परिकीर्तिताः॥
Tāpaḥ puṇḍras tathā nāma mantro yāgaśca pañcamaḥ, ete pañca viśeṣākhyāḥ saṃskārāḥ parikīrtitāḥ.
The five samskaras are: (1) Tapa — branding with Vishnu's symbols (conch and discus), (2) Pundra — wearing the Urdhva Pundra tilak, (3) Nama — receiving a servant's name (dasanama), (4) Mantra — initiation into the sacred mantra, (5) Yaga — regular worship of Vishnu.