Lord has so many names and our Rishis have
identified 15 powerful names. Out of
this 3 are most used by us and we use it for Achamanam in our daily routine and
both in the beginning and ending of all vedic religious rites.
Achamanam is nothing but cleaning the inner
body. It is a puriies both internally
and externally. It means taking a small quantity
of water three times saying name of the Lord each time. It energies our body and and help in
maintaining good health. It cleans the food pipe so that solid food passes through smoothly.
We have already seen that our body is composed of five elements namely fire, air, space(ether), earth and water. We have also seen that Thumb represents Fire or Sun, Index represents wind or air, Middle finger represents sky or space or ether, ring finger represents eath, and Little finger represents water. After three intakes of water uttering the nama of god each time as above one has to touch 12 various parts of the body with different fingers uttering a ‘Nama’ of God each time. The 12 names of Lord are the same ones used while adorning ‘Urdva Pundrams’ (religious marking-‘Namam’) on 12 different places of the body.
The water should not be sucked from the palm and no suking sound should come. The water should be taken in palm of the right hand and palm is steadily lifted without spilling the water keeping the anterior end (wrist end-Brahma Theertham) touching the lips and by slowly raising the neck the water should flow into the mouth by gravity.
It is not enough that the water is sipped with
the mantra but the water should reach
the heart and not merely stop with the tongue, mouth or throat. This is possible only if enough water is taken
in the cupped hand. The quantum of water
should be such that the inner palm is
immersed in the water.
In detail:-
1. Sit in Kukustana position with hands between
legs.
In Kukustana position pressure
is applied on the toes of the legs and this helps in healthy functioning of
pituitary, thyroid and adrenal glands and
heart beating.
2. Twist the right hand palm so that the little
finger, ring finger and middle finger are stretched while first finger is bent
inwards forming a hollow in the middle of the palm. The thumb will remain separate from the first
finger.
3. Take water in a tumbler on the left hand and
pour water onto the right hand palm as above.
Sip the water uttering the Mantra
‘AchutAya namah’;
Again take water for second time and sip with
uttering the Mantra ‘AnantAya namah’;
Again take water for the third time and sip
with uttering the Mantra ‘GovindAya namah.
Then with the index and ring finger gently rub
excess water on the lips in the front side of the mouth.
Take some water on the right hand and clean it.
Then touch various parts of the body with
uttering the Name of the Lord each time as below:-
1
|
Keshavaya Namaha
|
Right Hand Thumb tip to touch the right
cheek
|
2
|
Narayanaya Namaha
|
Right Hand Thumb tip to touch the left cheek
|
3
|
Mahavaya Namaha
|
R.H. Ring finger tip to touch right eye
|
4
|
Govindaya Namaha
|
R.H. Ring finger tip to touch left eye
|
5
|
Vishnave Namaha
|
R.H. index finger tip to touch right side of
nose
|
6
|
Madhusudhanaya Namaha
|
R.H. index finger tip to touch left side of
nose
|
7
|
Trivikramaya Namaha
|
R.H. little finger tip to touch right ear
|
8
|
Vamanaya Namaha
|
R.H. little finger tip to touch left ear
|
9
|
Shridharaya Namaha
|
R.H. middle finger tip to touch right shoulder
|
10
|
Hrishikeshaya Namaha
|
R.H. middle finger tip to touch left shoulder
|
11
|
Padmanabhaya Namaha
|
Four fingers with thumb folded inwards to
touch naval portion
|
12
|
Damodaraya Namaha
|
Four fingers with thumb folded inwards to
touch head
|
The above from sitting in Kukustana position
and doing as above will constitute one Achamanam.
---------- will
continue in next posting
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