SADAACHARA SMRUTI - WEARING CLOTHES

Step 16 

Vastra dharne
Wearing clothes

Always wear only dry clothes.

While wearing clothes:

Bharatiramana Mukyaprananthargatha Upendraya namah

What is madi (succi/succhi)?

Madi means cleanliness.

When we sit for homa, Havana, while praying God there should not be any distractions within us.

We should be away from doshas like kama (lust), krodha (anger), loba (greed), moha (fantasy), mada (pride), matsarya, (envy).

We may have taken bath with a lot of water, even may be standing in river Ganga  but it’s of no use. It is considered we are not clean even if we have any one of the doshas in this.

As dasar has said “horege nintu olage niyadhavara kandu beregagi nagutippa purundara vittala ”. We have to do snana both inside and outside. The statement which says if we are pure inside it’s enough no need to take bath or if we take bath that’s enough it shows we are clean. NO. For both the statements no is the answer, both inside and outside bathing and cleanliness is expected if we need to go near God.

In Rudra geetha, Bhagavatha Lord Rudra told to prathechasaru “athana gangro thava theerthayoho antharbahi snana vibhutha vathmanah  bhutheshu anuskruncha heynam yapsanghavaha anugrahastava” 

  After bath wear DRY clothes. Do achamana. Sitting in a asana put on gopichandana mudra. Do prokshana by apo eshta mantras. Do gayathri argya. Think of Shri Narayana and do argya. And the following japa tapas for the day.

Succhi/madi or being clean is most important for doing bhakthi as said by Srimad Acharyaru in Sadachara smruthi. 

Inner cleanliness

 Which depends on Body cleanliness, Clean clothes, Clean environment. (If a laptop has to work then we should connect it to the required switches install OS, whatever steps are necessary has to be done. Similarly if we need inner cleanliness we should follow the three given steps).  

What is clean cloth (madi vastra) and what is unclean cloth (mailige)?

Some points are given related to the question.

Rule 1:

Avastra / nanga

Should not be unclothed always.  

According to shastra if the cloth is unclean, unwashed, with full of stain it is considered to be Avastra. 

Before our ancestors used to wash the cloths (beat the clothes atleast twice) and then take bath.         

Our cloth should not be torn.

Our cloth has to cover our knees; it applies for both gents and ladies.

Our cloth should not be very small

Our cloth should NOT be wet or a cloth in which water is dropping. Even if we soaked it in water and have to wear it immediately shastra says then swing the wet cloth back and forth in the air so that the cloth is a bit dried off and water doesn’t drop  .

Should not wear a cloth that is stitched together from many pieces.

Rule 2:

kacche

Wearing kacche is must for both men and women. Men should wear kacche for every divine work. Ladies should wear kacche for Tulasi pooja. Sashtra says we don’t have any authority without wearing kacche. We can’t do so much, but at least we can wear kacche during pooja and nitya (daily) karmas.

Men should wear uttariya if grahasta. For bramachari uttariya (shawl or angavastra) is not required.

Rule 3:

VASUDEVA ROOPI

Vasudeva roopi bhagavantha is present in clothes. Hence we should not kick the cloth, should not take the clothes from legs. Should bent down and take the clothes. (while taking it in the hands its like doing puja to bhagavantha)

Rule 4:

ü Cotton clothes

Cotton clothes have to be worn only once. Then it has to be washed for reuse.

ü Silk clothes

Silk (reshme) clothes can be used reused for the pooja. But once if we eat our food wearing the silk clothes, it has to be washed for reuse.

ü Woolen clothes

Wool (uurna) is considered always clean/ madi (nitya shudha).    But wearing uurna should not eat. Once eating wearing wool its then milege.

New clothes                                                                               

We should keep the new clothes in front of god on a plate. Keep haldi and kumkum for the clothes. Pray to God saying this is given by you, you should stay in this. Then think of Upendra roopi bhagavan and wear the dress.

We should not wear new clothes as soon as we get from the shop. Wearing the clothes for “TRAIL” usually done in malls is not allowed in our culture.

      When should we wear a new cloth?

Sunday – if we wear a new cloth on Sunday, the cloth tears very early.

Monday – if we wear on Monday, it will have always get dirty soon and in result we will have a state of always washing it.

Tuesday – when wearing on Tuesday, the day will always be sorrowful.

Wednesday – it will make us wealthy

Thursday – it will increase our intellect

Friday – have a chance to be together with a person whom we love a lot, or things that we love a lot.

Saturday – it won’t be clean always

So this concludes we can wear new clothes on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

On the crisp:

v While wearing clothes:

Bharatiramana Mukyaprananthargatha Upendraya namah

v While wearing clothes think of Shri Hari’s hand, his legs, his hip, navel.

v Vasudeva roopi bhagavantha is present in clothes.

v When we wear an unwashed, stainful, torn, stitched, wet, above our knees, it is considered we are cloth less ( nagna/nude).

v Wearing kacche and uttariya is must for poojas.

Can wear new clothes for the first time on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

When should we be in mouna/ not speak to others/ in phone While taking bath If we speak varuna will take his kanti and shakti Homa/vaishadeva – agni will take away our sampath/wealth  Eat – mrutyu will take away ayush can speak about god, dasar kriti but no other worldly matters.

SADAACHARA SMRUTI - URDHVA PUNDRA DHARNE

Step 19 

Urdhva Pundra dharne

Applying Nama with gopichandana

Pundra in Sanskrit means sugargane. Since our gopichandana is in shape of sugarcane we call as urdhva pundra.  Urdhva means erect/straight. Hence nama that we apply should start from down drag upwards.

Why do we apply urdhva pundra?

Whatever our ancestors said has abundant genuineness and helps increase our satvik gunas. They are our well wishers and not enemies. They have proved a lot of things which science is not able to find the result until today.  The answer to many question Science calls it as approximate, unpredictable, etc to which our ancestors have given perfect answers. Ha! Ha! The worst part is we don’t believe our own blood and we believe in something called western culture and science which has installed many wrong thoughts and beliefs that has spoiled our culture and habits.  Now everywhere we see brats as our own children, we ourselves feel ashamed to wear traditional dress/ attire, to apply gopichandhana, even to keep bindhi on our forehead. Shame on us is what we feel. On the other hand good news is foreigners are joining ISCON following and praying our Krishna each and every second. They follow our culture; they even make their own food growing the plans that’s necessary for them.

There is always a relation between spirituality and yoga practices.

The person who practices yoga knows about the naadis.

There are seven chakras in our body.

SAHASRARA (Crown Chakra) -- spirituality

VISHUDDHA (Third Eye Chakra) -- Awarness

AJNA (Throat Chakra) – Comunication

ANAHTA (Heart Chakra) – Love Healing     

MANIPURA (Solar Pixels Chakra) – Wisdom Power

SWADHISHTANA (Sacral Chakra) – Sexual Creativity

MULADHARA ( Root Chakra) – Basic Trust

Applying urdhva pundra helps all these chakras to get activated one by one. It takes the flow from Sushumna nadi to Brahma nadi which is in the tip of our head.  It also helps invoking God from the twelve parts where we apply gopichandhana.

Urdhva Pundra dharane by our Acharyaru

Its told by our acharyaru

yajno danam tapo homah svadyayah pitrutarpanam
vyartham bhavati tatsarvam UrdhvapunDram vina kritam

We get authority (yogyatha) to do yagna, dhana, pooja, homa, tapas, pitru tarpana or pitru karya only if we wear urdhva pundra. Else every work that we do is a waste (vyarta).

Which shows everybody should apply urdhva pundra. Its misinterpreted that it is a symbol for Vishnu Bhaktas (vaishnava chinha), no that is wrong shanka, chakra,gada, padma are the vaishnava symbol. Hence everybody should wear urdhva pundra.

It’s told by our Madhvacharya that a person who has eaten flesh of dog (a person with very less values – we call him as ayogya) if he applies urdhva pundra which can be seen by others he gets purified. 

Hence the nama that we put has to be seen by everyone. People it can be invisible, any way we have bhakti in our heart. No it has to be visible.  Acharyaru did not have nama for exposing to others, he did it so his shishyas can follow and everybody will get the benefit of bhagavath anugraha. To make us pure, to always keep us as bhagavath we need to apply urdhva pundra. A person with urdhva pundra on their forehead will never commit a mistake.

Urdhva pundra dharane on our Sushameendra theertharu

A forehead without urdhva pundra is equal to graveyard (smashana). One has to do prayarchita by looking at the sun after seeing a face without urdhva pundra.

Men - should mix gopichandhana and water in mid of their palm. (sure everybody kows this)

While taking gopichandhana with water*:

Gopichandana Papagna Vishnu Deha Samudbhava|

Chakrankitha Namasthesthu DhaaraNan Mukthi dho Bhava||

Meaning:

Hey! Gopichandana! You are washing all our sins. You are born out of Vishnu Deha. You are having the sign of Chakra. I prostrate to you. Please bestow me Mukthi as I am wearing you.

*the water that we mix the gopichandhana with has to be pure. We should mix it with nirmalya theertha/saligrama abhisheka   theertha. It can also be nirmalya of previous day.

Having the Saligramaabhishiktha Thirtha in the left palm,

Imam Me gange Yamune saraswathi Shuthudri Sthomam Sachatha PurushNyaa

Asikniya Marudwa Drudhe vitasthayaRjikiye ShRNohya Sushomayaa

Thus you are doing Prathana for Jalaabhimaani Devatha. 

Then you are rubbing the Gopichandana with water. 

Say “ Namo NarayaNaaya Namah”, reciting Bhagavad Naamas, the Gopichandana is to be applied to your body.

 First keep it on the forehead praying:

Rathipathi manmadhanthargatha  Umapathi Rudranthargatha Bharathiramana Mukyapranathargatha Sri Bhoovarahaya nam:  

Fingers for applying Urdhva pundra nama dharane – what is the result

Thumb (angushta) – well nourish

Fore finger (toru beralu) – moksha  

Middle finger (Madhya) – long life 

Ring finger (anamika) – will never be short/lack of food

Hence mostly we apply nama with fore finger to get moksha.

Applying nama :

Before snana apply tulasi mrthika.

Immediately after snana in water.

Before sandhyavandhana in gopichandhana (with 12 namas).

After puja should apply nama with the sadal (gandha) that we offered to God.

After that apply angara.

Shri Krishna will sit on the places where we apply urdhva pundra.

Think of  Keshava when applying urdhva  pundra on forehead.

Think of  Narayana when applying urdhva  pundra from belly button to heart.

Think of  Madhwa when applying urdhva  pundra on heart.

Think of Govinda when applying urdhva  pundra on neck.

Think of  Vishnu when applying urdhva  pundra on right side of stomach.

Think of Madhusudhana when applying urdhva  pundra on right shoulder .

Think of  Trivikrama when applying urdhva  pundra on right side of neck.

Think of Vamana when applying urdhva  pundra on left side of stomach.

Think of  Sridhara when applying urdhva  pundra on left shoulder.

Think of  Hrishikesha when applying urdhva  pundra on left side of neck.

Think of  Padmanabha when applying urdhva  pundra on middle of lower back.

If you want to know more about urdhva pundra please refer to

https://sites.google.com/site/aktbfkollam/mudhradharam/urdhav-pundra-and-mudra

On the crisp:

Every men and women should apply Urdhva Pundra.

While mixing gopichandhana with water:

Gopichandana Papagna Vishnu Deha Samudbhava|

Chakrankitha Namasthesthu DhaaraNan Mukthi dho Bhava||

Having the Saligramaabhishiktha Thirtha in the left palm,

Imam Me gange Yamune saraswathi Shuthudri Sthomam Sachatha PurushNyaa

Asikniya Marudwa Drudhe vitasthayaRjikiye ShRNohya Sushomayaa

 First keep it on the forehead praying:

Rathipathi manmadhanthargatha  Umapathi Rudranthargatha Bharathiramana Mukyapranathargatha Sri Bhoovarahaya nam:  

Parts of the body	Bhagavath roopas
Forehead	Keshavaya nam:
Neck	Govindaya nam:
Right side of neck	Trivikramaya nam:
Left side of neck	Hrishikeshaya nam:
Right side of shoulder	Madhusudhanaya nam:
Left side of shoulder	Sridharaya nam:
Heart	Madhavaya nam:
Right side of stomach	Vishnave nam:
Left side of stomach	Vamanaya nam:
Belly button to heart	Narayanan nam:
Middle of lower back	Padmanabhaya nam:

SADAACHARA SMRUTI - GOVU VANDHANA

Step 17

Govu vandana

Do namaskara to the govu (cow).

But now a days there are no cows. We are leading a very lifestyle where we are not able to see the cow or take care of it.

Hence every day after tulasi vandhana, think of cow and pray

Bharathiramana mukhya Pranarthaga Utgitapinna Gopalakrishna nam:

In ancients people used to go to cow shed(hati/kotige), nurse the cow with love and feed them grass. Do pradakshina namaskara.

“Gavan drushtva namas krutya kuryath yastu pradakshanam.   Pradhikshane krutha thena satvat dweepa vaasundara  ”

Which means if we do pradakshina namaskar for a cow it is equal to doing  pradakshina namaskar for this whole earth with seven islands(satvat dweepa). There are lot of Gods in the cow. Especially Lord Mahalakshmi resides in cow.

Go Matha -- sannidhana of 33 crore devathas

The cow urine (gomuthra) and cow dung (gomaya) helps to eradicate diseases. It helps to eradicate Kali. It helps in keeping the house clean, free from bugs, flies and instects.  Our ancestors used to consider cow and bull as our mother(matha) and father (pitha) respectively. Our mother usually feed us milk and protect us, the cow does a similar job. Father gives us food and nourish, the way bulls helped in farming.

We should pray all the cows as mother and all the bull as father.

Think of kapila govu. ( It’s a rare breed of cow that belongs to Karnataka). Think of Gomatha (cow).  The cow is sadhu, its helpful, useful animal. Today sure it’s difficult to kapila govu. So we would visualize kapila govu.

Why think of cow (hasu) for a happy life

·       It helps everyone ( Similarly we should also do paropakaara).

·       Kind animal (hence we too should be kind to avaoid our ego).

·       There are 33 crore devatas in the cow.

·       Where a cow is present no evil or disease will enter.

·       Lord krishna is present in the cow.

·       On the crisp:

Think of cow and pray

Bharathiramana mukhya Pranarthaga Utgitapinna Gopalakrishna nam:

SADAACHARA SMRUTI - TULASI VANDHANA

Step 16

Tulasi vandana

After performing Dyanah snana where we think of river Ganga, originated from Paramatma’s feet flowing into our body in every naadi making us pure, we are ready to perform tulasi vandana.

Fill pure water in a kalasha (made of silver, copper or bronze. Please kindly avoid PLASTIC and silver in God’s pooja room for any reason. They are not sacred). Pour the water to the tulasi which is planted in brindavan or pot.

Praseeda thulasi devi

Praseeda hari – vallabhe

Ksheeroda – madanobudhe

Thulasi thwaam namaamyaham

Praseeda – gracious  

Thulasi devi

 Hari – vallabhe – Beloved wife of Shri Hari

Ksheeroda – Ksheer sagar

Madan – churn

ubudhe – rise up

Thwaam –  you

Namaamy – pray to

Aham - I

I  pray to Lakshmi wife of Shri Hari who was born while churning sheer saagar.

Origin of Tulasi

   Anandha bhashma of Shri Hari

   Amruta 

   Churning of sheer sagar

We all now that Devas and asuras churned the sheer sagar to get amruta. While Lord Vishnu took the avatar of Dhanvantri and appreared with AMRUTA kalasha. Seeing this all the devas were very pleased to see Lord Shri Hari’s help from start till the end (He who laid plan to get rid of asuras from Indira lok and long life of devas through Amrutha. He came as Garuda vahana to lift Mount Mandhara. He took avatar as Kurma to hold Mandhara, now atlast he came with amrutha).

The devas started to praise the Lord Maha Vishnu for all his leela’s and extended help. God was glad to hear their praise and let Tears out of divine joy (anandha bhashma). Always please now that Shri Hari is STITHA PRAJNA – He doesn’t have any emotions. He is the one who is always happy; there is no word of sorrow in his dictionary. A drop of his tears fell on the amrutha kalasha, from which TULASI was born. Hence she was always born with amrutha.

 Importance of Tulasi

Shri Hari doesn’t accept a pooja which was performed in absence of Tulasi. As dasar has said “Tulasi illada pooje vallano Hari Kolano”. Let there be diamonds, gold, gems for a pooja on the other hand we only have Tulasi alone for the pooja, God is satisfied with our Tulasi alone. In every pooja, yagna, yaga Tulasi is a must.

The king of leaves according to ayurveda is Tulasi and amruthavalli, which has been originated from amrutha kalasha.

Apply the mud (mrthika) from the brindavam apply on the forehead, similar to how we apply gopichandana on our forehead.

 If one see’s Tulasi with love once, our all sins will be destroyed.

“yah drushtya nigilaga sangasa mani ”

If we we touch the Tulasi once, our body becomes pure.

If we do namaskara to Tulasi, we will never get any disease (roga nivarana).

If we pour water to Tulasi the time of death will get delayed.

If we plant Tulasi we invite Shri Krishna to home and stays in Tulasi permanently. Krishna’s sannidhana is there. (*Please note while doing puja to Tulasi also place a small idol of Shri Krishna there. While doing sankalpa it has to be Krishna samedha Tulasi puja karishye).

If we dedicate (samarpana) one tulsi leaf to Shri Krishna we will be free from bondage (samsara). (* Please note Ladies SHOULD NOT pluck Tulasi leaves or Tulasi plant. Only male has the adhikara. And after sunset we should not pour water, pluck any leaves from any plant. In short after sunset we should not disturb any plant).

When one plucks thulasi flowers, chant

Thulasi amritha Keshava priye

Keshavaartham lunaami thwaam

Varadaa bhava shobane.

The thulasi thara should be kept with as  much peity and respect given to puja room. The thulasi leaves or flowers should not be plucked during sunset, ekadashi days, Tuesdays or Fridays.

On the crisp:

Every house should Tulasi plant.

Its air and soil has so much medicinal values.

Tulasi is a place where Shri Hari loves to stay and its his sannidhana

SADAACHARA SMRUTI - SNANA TYPES PART - 2

The other types of snana are :

Mrthika snana

Snana did with appling mud. ( Can refer to mrthika saucha in the upcoming post). This type of snana is also called bouma snana.

Do sankalpa as Tulasi Mrithika snanam karishye.

Take tulasi mrthika. Divide it into three parts. Apply the first part to cheeks, armpit. Apply the second part to belly and head. Take a dip in water then appl the third part for rest of the body.

Pray to Uddhrudhadhi Varahena. Hey bhoodevi, you have been rescued by god, He has given you talent of removing all sins. Clean all my sins and give me good health.

Do arya to Kamalanaba :  Nama kamalanabaya Namaste jala jayine namastestu Rishikesha grahaanargyam namostute.

Surya : yehi surya sahasramsho tejo rashe jagat pate anukampaya mam bhakthya grahaanargyam namostute

You are the who offer tejas (brightness) to the world, save the world. Show affection on us.

Ganga: Brahma Kamandalu Sambhuthe poorna Chandra nibhanane Trilokya vandithe Ganage grahaanargyam namostute

All Devatas: brahmadya devata sarvaaha rishiyo yecha vaishnavah te grnatu maya deva argyam samyak prashidhatah 

All devatas starting from Brahmas, all rishi, vaishnavas – people who has a lot of love and dedication for Shri Hari, everbody please accept this argya.

Usually argya has to be given to all rivers, but since we are short of time lets think of their name atleat once. During Thula masam we all know that taking bath in river is very special.

So argya mantra for abhimani devatas in river Kaveri is:

Namah karala vadane Namaste kali shalini Namaste Devi Kaveri grahaanargyam namostute

Shahyachala sambhute Srirangostala gamini Kaveri ti vigyathe grahaanargyam namostute

For Madhva Sarovara (udupi)

Nagasanagyna praptam ganga jala samashrita shriman madwa thataka idam grahaanargyam namostute

Swami Pushkarni

Venkatachala sambhute sarva theertha samanvite swami Pushkarinikyate grahaanargyam namostute

For river Tambarabharani (Tirunelveli, Tamilnadu)

Malayachala sambhute mukta hara vibhooshite Tamabarabharani  vigyathe grahaanargyam namostute

*On the day of Ekadashi, argya has to do be done only to Shri Hari not to Devatas.

Agneya snana

This is done by applying ashes.

Vayuve snana

This is done by applying cow dung (gomaya).

Divya snana

Bathing in rain is called divya snana.

On the crisp:

Bathing is equal to doing abisheka for bimba roopi god inside us.

While doing snana think of Pundarikaksha.

This helps us to make us pure and satvik.

Should not speak to others while taking bath.

While bathing

Bharatiramana Mukyapranathargatha Trivikrama Varahaa bhinna Drava roopi Shri Haraye nama:

Trivikrama – since Ganga was born from him

Varaha – the place we live, where river ganga makes her journey is earth. Lord Varaha rescued/ restored the Earth.

Drava – Drava means liquid. Drava roopi bhagavan is in the form of gnana swaroopi in water we take bath

Say Ganga Ganga while bathing.

SADAACHARA SMRUTI - SNANA TYPES PART - 1

Mala snana

Before having Varuna snana when one cleans the dirt from *nava dwaras (nine gates), by rubbing them with gram flour, mud or soap and submerging into the water three times its called Mala snana.

*Nava dwara – 2 eyes, 2 ears, 2 nostrils, 1 mouth, 1 anus (excretory organ) and 1 genital (reproductive organ).

Sankalpa

Madye hakyam bhagavan mandira sanprakshalanam karma karishye.

Meaning

Think (do anusandhana) as our body is bhagavan mandira. I am cleaning bhagavan mandira before doing abhisheka for God.

Varuna snana

When bathing by submerging in water, like seas, river. After mala snana one has to do achamana, snana sankalpa then again go to the river or sea and take bath is called Varuna snana.  It is also called avagahana snana.

*Sankalpa can be done either before or after Mala snana.

Snana sankalpa

But please note we HAVE do to sankalpa everyday in our home before going to bath even if we are bathing in tap water.

Guru Jagannatha dasaru

 Jala snana

The bath taken from well, or from tap where we fetch water and pour on us.

When going to bath in a lake or river or tap first sprinkle some water on the head. Then do hand wash and leg wash. Think of Varuna bhaghvan(theertha raja), and Lord Matsya resides inside Varuna.   

Tvam raja sarva theerthanam

Thvameva jagathath pitah

Yachitham dehime theertham

Sarva papai hi pramochaya.

Hey Varuna (also think of matsya rupi bhagavan in him). Your responsible for all the water bodies. You save the world with your water. I should bath to remove my dirt, all my sins. So help make this water pure so that I get rid of all the sins and dirt. Pray Matsya before getting into water.

We should wear a wet cloth to do snana. Remember snana should be done nude, we should wear atleast one cloth either wrap ourselves with a towel or langoti (loin cloth). There is an instance in bhagavatha where Krishna has spoken about this. As we all know this story - :

The gopika sthri’s when doing kathiyayini vrata, came to bath in the river early in the morning. Everyone were bathing unclothed. So shri Krishna took all the clothes of these women and sat on the tree. So when these women plead Krishna to return their clothes. Krishna told 1. You should not feel shy in front of God as you should surrender yourself to God. 2. You should not bath without any dress. You should wear atleast one dress else it’s like insulting the theerth abhimani devatas (devatas responsible for water/theertha).

Mantra snana

Sprinkling (prokshne) of water on the head by saying mantra like apo hi shta mayo bhavah is Mantra snana. When one feels very sick, when too old, too weak, and not able to do snana. In that case take hot water and a towel/cloth that’s washed clean our body. The old cloth has to removed after the towel bath and a washed cloth has to be worn. Do achamana two times. The third time hold some water in your palm and meditate on gayathri mantra thrice. Sprinkle (prokshna from tulasi leaf) this water on your head. “apo hi shta mayo bhavah Ta na”. Then again do achamana thrice.  Apply gopichanda, mudra darne and sandyavandana. This shows we should not leave sandyavandana in any circumstance. The ones who is bed ridden, very old then he can think of gayathri mantra and think of Suryanthargada Bharathiramana Mukyapranathargada Lakshmi Narayana. Think of Pundarikaksha who makes us pure. They can do dhyana snana. 

SADAACHARA SMRUTI - SNANA TYPES

Types of  Snana

There are five main types of snana

* Dhyana snana

* Mala snana

* Mantra snana

* Varuna snana

* Jala snana

Dhyana snana

There are 72,000 Naadi’s in a human body.

Whatever is present in Brahmanda* it is also present in pindanda**.

The Nadi’s that are present in our body should be considered as the rivers. The most important Naadi’s in our body are eda , pingla and sushumna naadi. These three are considered to be Ganga, Yamuna and Sarawati respectively. Naadi – nerve/ blood vessel. Eda – runs downt on left side of spine from left nostril. Pingala –  runs down the right side of the spinefrom the right nostril. Sushumna – present in centre of the spinal cord. They both intersect at agynachkra or bhoomadhya and join with Sushumna. Hence we consider this intersect as triveni sangama. We should do dhyana of Bhagavantha ten finger counts above our head. As mentioned in Purusha Sukta “ atyatishTat daSAngulam”

atyatishTat - He stands beyond

daSAngulam - the count of ten fingers.”

How to imagine Lord Vishnu is ten fingers above us as

·       You are wearing a lot of ornaments

·       You bear shanka, chakra, gada and padma

·       You are wearing pitambara

·       Your Shantha Sundara Moorthy

·       In your feet there are  symbols of dwaja, vajra, ankusha, chakra, padma, gada.

·        River Ganga is flowing from your red feet.

·       That ganga water is flowing on my forehead. She is flowing in my body. She is flowing in my eda pingala, all the naadis present in my body.

·       She is removing all the stains from our body that is filled with our sins.

·       Now my body has become clean and pure.

·        This is all is because of Lord Pundarikaksha.

·       Once we pray to Pundarikaksha, we get clean inside and out.

 Apavitrah Pavitro Vaa Sarva-Avasthaam Gato-[A]pi Vaa |
Yah Smaret-Punnddariikaakssam Sa Baahya-Abhyantarah Shucih

Apavitra – Impure

Pavitra – Pure

Sarva – all

Avastha – conditions

Gata – fallen into any state or condition

Api  - even

Yah – who

Smaret – remember

Pundarikaksha – Lord vishu who has Lotus like eyes

Sa – he

Baahya – outer

Abhyantarah – inner

Shucih – pure / clean

If one is Apavitra (Impure) or Pavitra (Pure), or even in all other conditions, He who remembers Pundarikaksha the person becomes Pure outwardly as well as inwardly.

*Lord Pundarikaksha is similar to eyes which doesn’t allow the dirt to come inside the eyes and the lotus that doesn’t get dirty outside, He doesn’t get dirty inside or outside. He is epitome of purity.

This type of Dyanah snana gives us crore folds of result (phala) than doing the snana with 3 crore theerthas. It’s the most outstanding way of doing snana.  This doesn’t mea we should not do the physical bathing, it just means the Dyanah snana is very auspicious which has to be done every day.

*Brahmanda or macro cosmos

Macro Cosmos means the world above us along with earth and all the galaxies of creation with its elements.  Macro cosmos consists of heaven; sland, underground named respectively as Swarga, Marthya and Pathala.  This also consist of the sky above, the galaxies, stars, planets, the five elements denoted by fire, land, wind, water and sky, rivers, mountains, planets, plant and animal kingdom etc.

**Pindanda or micro cosmos

Micro Cosmos is referred to human being.  The human being is called pindanda because the being is formed by a solid formation called panda in the womb and gets called as pindanda

It is strange that whatever elements present in the Macro Cosmos are also present in the Micro Cosmos and hence human body (Micro Cosmos) is nothing but the replica of the Macro Cosmos which can be understood with the following mutual relationships

MACROCOSMOS	MICRO COSMOS
Fire	Fire of Digestion
Land	Smell
Wind	Respiration
Water	All liquids in the body
Swarga	Head
Mountains	Bulging bones
Stars	Hairs of the body
Rivers	Blood veins
Nine Planets	Nine openings in the body

Out of nine openings Sun and Moon rules over the two eyes, Mercury and Venus represents the nostrils, Saturn and Mars represents ears, Raahu and Ketu indicates openings of the excretory organs.