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Criticism of Tapta mudrā dhāraṇam in the Dharma śāstra compilation by Hemādri

Hemādri is well known for his Dharma śāstra work in four volumes. He has touched upon a very
large number of aspects of conduct by people who wish to follow the path of Dharma. In the Vol.IV
of the work ‘Chaturvarga Chintamani’, this author has a chapter for the criticism of the practice of
branding one’s body by hot-metal images of religious insignia like the shankha, chakra, linga, etc.
The following is copied from his book. Translation is not given here as the verses are quite simple
and easy to comprehend. However, a gist of the verses, wherever necessary, is given.

The Vayupurana says: If a Brahmana, out of delusion, inflicts his body with a heated seal, he
becomes ineligible for (shrouta-smarta) karma. He is verily a heretic, a follower of false doctrine.

Naradiya purana: The body of a Brahmana is verily a repository of all Vedas. It aught not to be
inflicted with marks. If he gets himself branded with the chakra or linga insignia, he should perform
the Purusha Sukta japa. Else, he is destined to hell.
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In the sequel, the expiation for having accepted anything from those who have branded their bodies
is stated:

The Linga Purana: He who brands his body with shankha, chakra, etc. is verily a living corpse. He is to
be barred from participating in any dharmic activity.

Aditya purana: If one wants to stay away from any Vedic/dharmic activity, let him brand both his
shoulders with chakra, etc. If a Brahmana who has branded his body with tapta mudras is even
beheld, one should purify himself by looking at the Sun.

Vahni purana: If a Brahmana brands his body with shankha, chakra, etc. there is no expiation for him
from the sin. Parashara says: Such a one should tonsure his head, perform all enjoined karma, and
engage in a very tough expiatory rite called krucchra.

The Kurmapurana (which Sri Vishveshwara Saraswati too has cited from profusely in his Yati Dharma
Sangraha) also has stringent expiation for having accepted even gold from a person with tapta
mudra anka.

The Devi Purana (which is held by some to be a bogus work) is cited enormously by Hemadri in his
works. Here he cites this Purana for the censure of the heinous act of Linga dharana. The Skanda
Purana too is quite strong in the criticism of the practice. The Padmapurana, Rama is addressed, and
the practice of a Brahmana branding his body with chakra, etc. and the censurability anyone
accepting something from such a person, etc. is clearly stated.

The verses in the original are available in the following pages:

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