Search:
Bhakti List Archives

[sv-rituals] Achamanam-2

From the Bhakti List Archives

sadagopan iyengar • August 5, 2002 


        Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika
Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

              Achamanam-2
      We have seen the various occasions warranting
Achamanam. One of these is eating or drinking.
However, there are occasions too when Achamanam is
forbidden; for instance it is not to be done after the
intake of holy water like PerumAl Tirttham (Vishnu
pAdOdakam), Sri PAda tIrttham of bhAgavatAs,
madhuparkam, sOmapAnam (after conclusion of the
SomayAga),etc. 
  The Achamanam in practice during Sandhyavandanam
etc., is described in the Smritis. There is one more
prescribed by the Shruti and which is done at the time
of Brahma Yagyam ( done after PrAtah:sandhyAvandanam,
in which one prasna from the Veda is recited daily in
sequential order, along with the Purusha Sukta). This
Achamanam is described in the TaittirIya AraNyaka (
2nd Prasna, 15th panchati) thus-“
tri:AchAmEt,dvi:parimrijya,sakrit u0pasprisya,shira:
chakshushee nAsikE shrOtrE hridayam Alabhya”
As in the ordinary Achamanam, here too, water is
sipped thrice, the lips wiped twice. Then one should
touch the head, eyes, two nostrils, two ears and the
heart. This constitutes the Shrouta Achamanam. 
The important difference in this type of Achamanam is
that it is done without any mantra being uttered- the
intake of water is without the accompaniment of
“Achuta Ananta Govinda” nAmAs. Further, the body parts
to be touched are only eight, against twelve in the
SmArta Achamanam. Additionally, even while touching
these parts, no mantra is to be recited (i.e., without
the KesavAdi nAmAs).
Perhaps due its peculiarities, and the absence of
accompanying Bhagavan nAmAs, this Achamanam is
prescribed only during Brahma Yagya and nowhere else.

There is one more type of Achamanam in vogue. If often
happens that though we need to purify ourselves
through Achamanam, no water is available at the time
and place. In such situations, the Smriti prescribes
an easy method of purification- that of touching the
tip of oneÂ’s nose and then the right ear, uttering the
Pranava mantra. This is based on the Scriptural texts,
which say that Agni resides in the BrahmanaÂ’s nose tip
and holy rivers like the Ganga in his right ear. Hence
touching these two purifies a person immediately. This
is why perhaps the YagyOpaveetam is rolled onto oneÂ’s
right ear while carrying on excretory functions. We
would have observed elders performing this ShrOtra
Achamanam after letting out a yawn or sneezing.
It is to be noted that this short cut is to be adopted
only when the regular Achamanam is impossible due to
circumstances.
Other types of mini-AchamanAs are prescribed by Sri
BodhAyana, who says that when the vastram is worn
again after its removal, one should perform Achamanam,
and if that is not possible, touch wet grass, wet
earth or wet gOmayam.
The importance attached to Achamanam is evident from
the Smriti Chandrika vachanam, 
“ya: kriyA kurutE mOhAt anAchamya Eva nAstika:
  bhavanti hi vritA tasya kriyA:sarvA na samsaya:”
All karmAs done without Achamanam are doomed to
failure and would be futile, warns the Smriti.
There are many Smritis, which prescribe different
types of Achamanam, some mutually conflicting.
Whenever one has a doubt, one should approach elders
and BhAgavatAs and have the matter clarified, as there
is nothing that is more authoritative. Adiyen seeks
the pardon of BhagavatAs for any errors of commission
or omission that might have crept in the above piece.

Srimate Sri LakshmINrsimha divya paduka sevaka
SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya
Nama:
Dasan,sadagopan.



__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Health - Feel better, live better
http://health.yahoo.com


------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Will You Find True Love?
Will You Meet the One?
Free Love Reading by phone!
http://us.click.yahoo.com/it_ffB/R_ZEAA/Ey.GAA/XUWolB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

-- SrImatE rAmAnujAya namaH --

 

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/