As A Ritual
Presently this practise is considered as the primary ritual to be performed in Pathis and Thangals. Those who 'serve' in every Pathis or Nizhal Thangals, wear this white mark for the people and give a portion of it in their hands. People carry it home as holy object, and some of them even swallow a little of it believing it to be medicinal. The 'Thiru mun' (sacred soil) for preparing the Thiru Namam is collected from Swamithope pathi for Nizhal Thangals after conducting the Pothippu. But some Thangals prepare them as their own.
Akilam, the primary scripture too accredit this ritual practice to be ceremonial and sacred. And it was practiced and treated with high religious importance and as the primary ritual from the celebration conducted in Swamithope pathi even during the period of Vaikundar. The secondary scripture Arul Nool too refers that, Ayya personally touched the devotees and wore Thirunamam for them.
Since Vaikundar used ordinary soil as 'Thiru Namam' during his Tavam(austrity) period, ordinary soil is kept there now in alternative of the white soil in the Vatakku Vasal, where Ayya performed the Tavam.
Read more about this topic: Thirunamam
Famous quotes containing the word ritual:
“We must get back into relation, vivid and nourishing relation to the cosmos and the universe. The way is through daily ritual, and is an affair of the individual and the household, a ritual of dawn and noon and sunset, the ritual of the kindling fire and pouring water, the ritual of the first breath, and the last.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)