Srivaishnava lakshanam – 1

This
purana sloka explains who a vaishnava is from a physical appearance
perspective and what does he do to the place where he lives.

One
who wears maalaas (necklace) that is made out of Tulasi and Lotus stems
(also includes pavithra maalai which was adorned by perumal, thaayaars,
azhwars, acharyas),
One whose shoulders are decorated with the unique symbols of Sriman
Narayana – shankam and chakkaram (as part of the pancha samskaaram process),
One
whose forehead is decorated with Urdhva pundram (an authorized symbol
applied by mixing the clay that is found in holy pilgrimages and that
represents the holy feet of Sriman Narayana) – while it talks about forehead specifically, our purvaacharyas always applied 12 urdhva pundrams at various places of the body per sastras,
That vaishnava quickly purifies the world (the place where he is present).

Our
purvaacharyas have always emphasised the importance of physical
appearance and always ensured that they maintained their physical
appearance according to the sastraas even at dire situations. After all
we are also driven by our senses – so the easiest way we can identify a
vaishnava is thru the sense of vision. Only advanced vaishnavas can
identify another vaishnava (who may not be physically appearing so).
That is why this pramaanam from padma puranam puts emphasis in physical
appearance.

With this beginning we will go thru pramaanams from various granthangal of our purvaacharyas.

adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan