IS THERE OTHER TYPES OF ACHAMANAM - 3 OF 3

The Achamanam is described in Smrits.  Another type of  Achamanam is prescribed by Shruti which is done at the end of Brahmayagyam, (after doing morning sandhyavandanam and reciting one vedic portion daily and purushasukta). This is described in the Taittirya Aranyaka (2^nd prasnam 15^th panchati).  Here also water is sipped thrice, lips are wiped twice, touch head, eyes, nostrils, two ears and the heart. This is called Shrouta Achamanam.  Here sipping of water and touching of various parts of body is without uttering any bhagwan nama.  Hence it is done while Brahmayagya only.  Touching of only 8 parts of body as against 12 parts in the previous Achamanam.  There is yet another type of Achamanam as per puranas where we touch various parts of the body uttering 24 names of Vishnu.

If no water is available then to purifiy ourselves touch tip of nose and then right ear uttering pranava mantra.  Because Agni resides in the  nose and ganga in the right ear of Brahmin.  This should be adopted only where regular Achamanam is impossible.

Shri Bodhyana says that when vastram is worn again after its removal, one should perform Achamanam and if this not possible oen should touch wet grass,wet earth or wet gomayam.

All karmas done without Achamanam will end in failure and would be of no use.  Ladies can also do Achamanam and Ladies can do it without uttering pranava and chaturthi. That is without ‘Om’ and ‘Namaha’.  

Aswini devadas reside on the nose,  Agni and vayu in ears, ganga and Yamuna on lips, Surya and Chandra in eyes,  Vishnu in heart and 33 crore (what is 33 crore please see earlier post) on head.  So while respective devadas are pleased while doing Achamanam. 

There are still other types of Achamanam and slight variation.  Cosult your Madams or elders for the correct mode according to one’s sampradaya.  But all insists doing Achamanam at the time starting and endhing any vaidika karma.

If during Veda parayanam one takes water or some drink, only after doing Achamanam and chanting  “idham visnur vica’krame tredhā nida’dhe padam | samū’Tamasya pāgum sure” (in mind and if all had water or drink then achamanam separately but 'idam..' together) one can continue the parayanam.