Aachamana Vidhi - Concept and Significance..

9/15/2014 Aachamana Vidhi - Concept and Significance...
http://bhargavasarma.blogspot.in/2009/04/aachamana-vidhi-its-significance.html 1/19
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In Hindu sampradaya any Nithya
or Nymittika Karma always begins
with a ritual called Aachamanam
followed by Sankalpa which has
religious and spiritual
significance. Aachamanam is the
simplest of Vaidika karmas yet
none the less in importance than
an Aswamedha Yaagam. Its
importance can be well realized
when we note that it forms the
prelude to all the rituals; no Vedic
karma begins without
Aachamanam.
What is Aachamanam?
In simple terms the process of
reciting the names of Supreme
God (Maha Vishnu) while
performing Jalapanam (sipping
drops of water) as per Vedic
scripts is called Aachamanam
(Aachamana). It is a purification
ritual wherein one sips water
Aachamana Vidhi -
Concept and
Significance...
three times from the Brahma
Theertha (base of the right
thumb) while reciting divine
names. It is done three times to
make ourselves free from three
shortcomings viz. Kayik
(physical/bodily); Vachik (verbal)
and Manasik (mental). One would
have observed in a temple the
priest offers theertha (sacred
water) three times. Number three
denotes Trinal lords (Brahma,
Vishnu and Maheswara) who also
represent the three Gunas Rajasa,
Sattwa, and Thamasa. These
gunas or states of mind are
present in human beings also.
Aachamanam is an act of
purifying the inner body (soul) by
sipping water while praying the
supreme Lord, the Primordial
Person Lord Vishnu the karaka
for or existence.
Aachamana literally means to sip.
But as a ritual of purification, it
means to sip water three times
from the right hand and then to
touch the various sense organs
and parts of the body while calling
out the divine names. This form of
purification is in vogue since time
immemorial. The physical benefit
of this exercise is that, by sipping
water thrice the throat is cleared
from Vata, Pitta and Kapha
doshas and one is then able to
chant the manthra or recite divine
names clearly.
How to perform
Aachamanam?
Simplest version of performing
Aachamanam is, take a spoonful
(Uddharani) of water poured into
the cupped palm of the right
hand, then recite "Kesavaaya
Swaaha" and sip it without
making noise with the Palm
tipped back slightly from the base
of the thumb in the name of Lord
Kesava. The same act is
performed for the second time
reciting of "Narayanaya
Swaaha" in the name of Lord
Narayana. The act is performed a
third time reciting "Madhavaya
Swaaha" in the name of Lord
Madhava.
Above act is followed by reciting
the other 21 names of Lord
Vishnu called Kesava Naamaas by
touching various sensory organs
and other parts of the body as
given below
Divine name Corresponding
body part
1. Govindaya
Namaha
2. Vishnave Namaha
Both the
hands are
washed
3. Madhusudhanaya
Namaha
4. Thrivikramaya
Namaha
Both the upper
and lower lips
are touched
with the right
hand fingers
5. Vaamanaya
Namaha
6. Sridharaya
Namaha
Left and right
cheeks are
touched
7. Hrusheekesaya
Namaha
Hands are
touched
8. Padmanabhaya
Namaha
Sprinkle water
on the feet
9. Damodaraya
Namaha
Centre of the
head is
touched with
the middle
finger
10. Sankarshanaya Nose edge is
Namaha touched with
the fist
11. Vasudevaya
Namaha
12. Pradhyumnaya
Namaha
Left and right
nostrils are
touched
13. Aniruddhaya
Namaha
14.
Purushottamaya
Namaha
Right and left
eyes are
touched
15. Adhokshajaya
Namaha
16. Narasimhaya
Namaha
Right and left
ears are
touched
17. Achyutaya
Namaha
Navel portion
is touched
18. Janardhanaya
Namaha
Chest is
touched
19. Upendraya
Namaha
Head is
touched
20. Haraye
Namaha
21. Sri Krishnaya
Namaha
Right and left
shoulders are
touched
Types of Aachamanam...
Aachamanam could be of
different types arising from
different scriptures viz. Vaidika,
Srauta, Smartha, Pouranic and
Tantric based on the
ceremony/ritual being performed
and on the line of learning that is
being followed. There can also be
difference in the rules followed.
The difference mainly lies mainly
in the mantras recited. Reciting of
manthras during Aachamana
differs from place to place, region
to region based on sampradaya.
In some places we find people
recite Achyutaya Namaha,
Ananthaya Namaha, and
Govindaya Namaha in the
beginning while sipping water
three times and thereafter 24
Kesava Nama are recited by
touching the body parts with
fingers. Generally family tradition
is followed. Whatever may be the
type of Aachamanam followed, its
very objective is one and the same
that is, purification of the body
and mind. It is said that
Aachamanam should be
performed twice at the beginning
of Sandhyavandana Kriya and
once/twice at the end.
In practice we find there are two
types of Aachamanam which are
in vogue. They are,
Srouthaachamanam and
Pouranikaachamanam also called
Smarthaachamanam. The one
that is performed with Gayathri is
called Srouthaachamanam and
the one which is performed with
Kesavadi Namas is called
Pouranikaachamanam. Majority
follow the system of
Pouranikaachamanam. It is said
that while performing
Sandhyavandana Kriya one
should follow the
Pouranikaachamanam and while
performing Brahma Yajna
Srouthachaamanam should be
followed.
Place & Posture The place
should be clean, free from any
impure items. One should sit on
an asana (mat) facing East or
North in Padma or Swastika
asana. Knees and feet should not
be protruding. One should not
stand while performing
Aachamanam, but always in
Kukkutasana (hen-like posture)
sitting down with the soles of the
feet firmly planted on the ground,
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the hands between the knees.
Hand configuration The
right hand should be held so that
the forefinger, middle finger and
ring finger are together and
slightly bent upwards, while the
little finger and the thumb are
separated from the other three
fingers.
Water Water used for
Aachamanam (sipping) should be
pure, cool but not hot, without
foam or stagnation bubbles,
without foul odor or bad taste,
untouched by fingernails or hair
or any other impure items. Water
of quantity to cover a grain of
Urad Dal (Black gram) should be
poured from the left hand by
spoon (Uddharani) into the right
palm. One should say the
appropriate mantra and sip the
water from the Brahma Theertha
of the right hand without making
noise.
It is said that a Brahmin should
always perform Aachamanam
using Brahma Theertha. He can
also do it using Rishi theertha and
Deva theertha but he should never
do it using Pithru theertha. This
classification is based on where
we hold the water in the right
hand. If we hold it just below the
thumb it is Brahma Theertha. If it
is held just below the little finger
it is Rishi Theertha and at the
edge of four fingers, then it is
Deva theertha. If it is held
between the thumb and the first
finger it is called Pithru Theertha.
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When to perform
Aachamanam?
Though Aachamanam generally
precedes all karmas, there are
specific occasions when it is called
for/prescribed. They are
As a preliminary to all nithya
and naimittika karmas like,
Sandhyavandana, Devatha
Archana, Brahma Yajna,
Vedaadhyayana, Pithru Yajna
(Sraddha/Tharpana),
Manthra japa, Homa etc.
Immediately after waking up
in the morning;
After urination and other
forms of excretion;
After brushing ones teeth;
Before and after taking bath;
After wearing clothes;
Before and after the meals;
Speaking with or touching
unsuitable persons,
After telling a lie;
Before and after giving or
accepting alms or donation;
After sneezing, shedding tears
or blood;
Upon physical contact with
women;
Before and after crossing a
river
When not to perform
Aachamanam?
Aachamanam is not to be
done in a standing position.
Exception: one may perform
Aachamanam while standing
if one is in water which is
above the knees but below the
navel.
Aachamanam is not to be
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done facing west or south;
always it should be facing east
or north.
Aachamanam should not be
done with impure or falling
water as from a tap or rain,
but usually with water from a
river or tank, or from a vessel
held in the left hand. When
doing in a river or tank, the
left hand should be touching
the water.
It should not be performed
casually, while speaking to
others, by wearing a shirt or
footwear; with a covered
head; with laughter etc. It
should be performed with
devotion and with the
consciousness that one is
uttering the holy names of the
Almighty which purify and
protect.
Aachamanam should not be
done wearing a Pavithra.
While performing
Aachamanam Pavithra should
be kept in the gap between the
right ear lobe and the head.
This is perhaps meant to avoid
the sharp ends of the Pavithra
hurting the eyes.
When Aachamanam is
forbidden?
Aachamanam is not to be done
immediately after taking prasada
or sipping theertha as these are
holy and pure and the symbolic
act of purifying oneself through
Aachamanam insults their
holiness.
Exemption from
Aachamanam:
There is one more type of
Aachamanam that is in vogue. It
often happens that, though we
need to purify ourselves through
Aachamanam, no water may be
available at that time and place.
In such a situation the scripts
prescribe an easy method of
purification; that of touching the
tip of the nose and then the right
ear uttering Pranava mantra. It is
based on the Scriptural texts
which say that, Agni resides in the
Brahmanas nose tip and holy
rivers like the Ganga in his right
ear. Hence touching these two
purifies a person immediately.
One would have observed elders
reciting names of God (Krishna,
Govinda etc.) whenever they
sneeze or yawn. Perhaps this is
with respect to the above
principle. It is to be noted
that this short cut is to be adopted
only when performing regular
Aachamanam is not possible.
Significance of Aachamanam
Water is profusely glorified in
Vedas and is used in Vedic rituals
for sipping, touching to parts of
the body, sprinkling over the
body, and for bathing the body.
Taking pure, cool water internally
is purifying and invigorating both
physically and mentally. When it
is accompanied by utterance of
the divine names of Lord Vishnu
one becomes filled with spiritual
qualities. Aachamanam is a
standard form of purification,
prerequisite for meditation, pooja,
homa and other sacred activities.
A Brahmana becomes purified by
performing Aachamanam if the
water penetrates to the heart (i.e.
by swallowing the water
completely). A Kshathriya
becomes purified by performing
Aachamanam if the water reaches
his throat. A Vysya becomes
purified if the water reaches his
palate (inside the mouth). A
Sudra or a Woman becomes
purified if the water touches his or
her lips.
During Aachamanam one touches
various parts of the body because
in different organs of the body are
located various energies and their
deities. It is said that, as per Sage
Sri Veda Vyasa, all the deities are
propitiated by the intake of water
with the Achyuta, Ananta and
Govinda Nama. Wiping the lips
pleases Ganga and Yamuna; while
touching the eyes pleases Surya
and Chandra. Similarly Aswini
Devathas are propitiated by
touching the nose, Agni and Vayu
by the ears. With the
Padmanabha manthra all the
thirty-three crore Deities are
pleased and the Paramatma by
touching the head.
When manthra are
recited/chanted lot of heat is
produced in the body due to
which the throat and the mouth
can become dry. Aachamanam
done three times aims at
remedying this dryness. One need
not drink mouthful of water in
Aachamanam. One only needs to
sip as much as is required to make
the mouth and throat wet and
reach the heart.
It is said that any ritual performed
without Aachamanam and
Sankalpa do not yield any results
and is useless. All karmas
performed without Aachamanam
are destined to fail and would be
futile.
Anaachamyakritham yachha
yachha sankalpa varjitham
rakshasam thattbhavet. It is said
as per Sri Bhagavatha Purana that
Lord Sri Krishna had observed
these rituals very strictly in his
daily routine and shown to the
world the significance of
Aachamanam and Sankalpa.
Significance of Aachamanam
& 24 Kesava Namas...
Among the several thousand
names of Lord Vishnu (Vishnu
Sahasranama) these 24 names
called Chaturvimshati Kesava
Namas are very important. We
recite 24 names of Lord Vishnu
during Aachamanam the first
three while sipping water and
remaining 21 while touching the
body parts. They are Kesava,
Narayana, Madhava, Govinda,
Vishnu, Madhusudhana,
Trivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara,
Hrusheekesa, Padmanabha,
Damodara, Sankarushana,
Vasudeva, Pradhyumna,
Anirudhha, Purushottama,
Adhokshaja, Naarasimha,
Achyuta, Janardhana, Upendra,
Hara, and Sri Krishna...
It is said that Manu Smruthi
compares these 24 names of the
Supreme God with 24 tattvas
(elements) of creation with which
the universe is formed. For
example Kesava represents
Avyaktha tattva, Narayana
represents Mahatattva, Madhava
represents Ahankara tattva, and
Govinda represents Manotattva.
Remaining twenty names
represents Pancha Gnanendriyas
(eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and
skin), Pancha karmendriyas,
(hands, legs, speech, and two
excretory organs), Pancha Pranas
(prana, apana, vyana, udana, and
samana) and Pancha Bhoothas
(sky, water, fire, air, and earth). It
is believed that, the first three
names Kesava, Narayana,
Madhava are Tapatraya
Nivarakas. These 24 names also
represent the 24 syllables of
Gayathri Manthra called
Beejaksharas that have influence
on the human body.
For performing any Kriya one
should have Anthhakarana
Suddhi (inner purity) that is
possible only by praying God by
reciting His divine names
(manthras) and the process of
Aachamanam is only meant for
that purpose. By reciting 21
names a person is getting purified
bodily and by reciting three
names he is getting purified
internally.
Reciting these names of Supreme
God is the link for devotion as it
cleanses the inner body of the
human being that helps in
attaining quick results. The name
of God is so powerful that it has
the capacity to vanquish any sins
and desires. Whether it is done
knowingly or unknowingly with or
without understanding its
meaning and significance, reciting
divine name will never go a waste.
Best example we find in the story
of Ajaamila as given in
Ajaamilopakhyanam of Sri
MadBhagavatham where,
Ajaamila chants unknowingly the
name of Lord Narayana at the
time of his death and gets rid of
his sins. The one that is done by
knowing its meaning and
significance will not only
eliminate the sins but also helps
in gaining the divine knowledge
that leads to ultimate salvation.
Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu
Aachamana Vidhi: (Rules for
inner cleaning as said by
sages)
Vyasa
Wash your hands and legs and
face, keep the sacred thread in
normal position, and keeping
both hands in between the knees,
we have to do Aachamana. Then
we have to clean the teeth. Make
your right hand in the shape of
the ear of the cow and take water
three times. Then wipe your lips
twice. Keeping the thumb and
little finger open and folding the
other three fingers, you have to
drink the water. This is called the
Aachamana method. Every time
you have to take water sufficient
to drown a single grain of black
gram.
Manu
Aachamana should be done using
Brahma theertha which is not hot,
facing east or north. For getting
clean we should bathe in water
reaching up to the chest in case of
Brahmins, reaching up to the neck
in case of Kshatriya, reaching up
to the mouth in case of Vysyas
and reaching up to the bottom of
the mouth in case of Shudhras
and ladies.
Mareechi
Aachamana should not be done
standing or firmly sitting or with
hands held outside the knees.
Immediately after meals
Aachamana can be done sitting
firmly on the earth. You should
not Achamaneeyam with upper
cloth worn on one side of the body
or with cloth hiding the shoulders.
It should also not be done without
sacred thread, wearing dirty
cloths and not tying the hair. All
activities following such wrong
Aachamana need to be repeated
again. If Aachamana is done
facing south or west, then we need
to take bath again and perform
Aachamanam again.
Yama
While doing Aachamana we have
to touch water (pot or river) with
the left hand. This is because in
the left hand reside the twelve
Adithyas as well as Varuna the
lord of water. Water in the Bronze
vessel, copper vessel and silver
vessel is always pure. So you have
to hold the Uddharani
(ceremonial spoon) and take the
water from the vessel and pour it
in the right hand and do
Aachamana. Taking it directly by
the left hand is considered
equivalent to drinking of Alcohol.
Saunaka
The water has to be taken after
washing the hand and legs. The
water that we see clearly should
be used. The water which can just
drown a black gram should be
taken and it is sufficient if it
reaches up to the chest. After the
Aachamana, we have to close our
lips and wipe the mouth by the
base of the thumb twice. Then we
have to touch the mouth by all
fingers held together. It is said
after this all organs should be
touched by the fingers. We drink
the water saying Achyuthaya
Namaha, Ananthaya Namaha and
Kesavaya Namaha and touch the
organs using fingers chanting the
12 names of Vishnu.
Samvartha
Aachamana must be performed
after bath, after taking food, after
drinking fluids, after sneezing and
after sleep. If during chanting of
mantra, we happen to see
anything dirty, Aachamana
should be performed and
chanting recommenced.
Parasara
Manu and Parasara are of the
opinion that the sacred waters of
the river like Ganges, Sun,
Varuna, Chandra, Fire and wind
are always in the right ear of a
Brahmin. If we are not able to do
Aachamana, or if we are not able
to get water for Aachamana when
we have to do Aachamana,
we need only to touch our right
ear. This is equivalent to
Aachamana. During meals, Homa,
taking of alms, eating, or giving of
alms, we need to perform
Aachamana twice.
Markandeya
After eating mango, sugar cane
piece, betel leaf and Soma Pana,
there is no need to do
Aachamanam. After taking the
Vishnu Pada Theertha also
Aachamana should not be
performed.
Posted 24th May by nirikhi krishna
bhagavan
Labels: Aachamana Vidhanam, Aachara
Vichara, Achamana Vidhi, Concept &
Significance of Aachamana, Significance
of Aachamanam

9
View comments
pandumuchu September 17,
2009 at 6:58 PM
That a good post. Thanks for the
information. i have read
somewhere that these 24 namas
can be related to the 12
pournamis and 12 amavasyas
which are 24 in a year. but i
could not get the full text. Can u
give some information
Namaste
Praveen
Reply
bhargavasarma September 21,
2009 at 8:13 AM
Dear Sri Praveen
One Pournima and One
Amavasya forms an integral part
of a month also called as Masa.
Lord Maha Vishnu is also known
as Masa Niyamaka. Each Hindu
month starting from Chaitra
Masam is denoted by a specific
name of Lord Maha Vishnu
which is a part of 24 Kesava
Namas. Accordingly
Chaitra Masam (Vishnu)
Vaisakha Masam
(Madhusudhana)
Jyesta Masam (Trivikrama)
Aashada Masam (Vamana)
Sravana Masam (Sridhara)
Bhadrapada Masam
(Hrusheekesa)
Aaswayuja Masam
(Padmanabha)
Kartheeka Masam (Damodara)
Margasira Masam (Kesava)
Pushya Masam (Narayana)
Magha Masam (Madhava)
Phalguna Masam (Govinda)
If you have any other
information, kindly provide the
same. I will update myself.
Thanks for visiting my blog and
for your word of appreciation.
Best regards
bhargavasarma
Reply
pandumuchu September 21,
2009 at 10:27 AM
Thank you sir.
Reply
Hariprasad Alur September 30,
2009 at 11:09 AM
Namaskara Sri Bhargava
Sarma,
Your article is very neatly
presented with lot of inputs.God
bless you and your
family.Please keep up the
Narayana Seva.
Humble Regards
Hariprasad Alur
Reply
bhargavasarma September 30,
2009 at 12:13 PM
Namaskara Sri Hariprasad
Thank you very much for visiting
my blog and also for your good
wishes.
Best regards
bhargavasarma
Reply
Anonymous August 28, 2011
at 2:35 PM
Thank you very much for the
detailed explanation on
Aachamanam. Its really very
helpful.
Humble regards,
Krishna
Reply
bhargavasarma August 28,
2011 at 3:04 PM
Dear Sri Krishna
Thank you very much!
bhargavasarma
Reply
Anonymous December 15,
2011 at 7:38 PM
Bhargavasarma garu,
Thank you for the detailed
explanation. I am a non-brahmin
and recite "apavitraha
pavitrova..." before commencing
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to daily pooja or preparing to
read any lord's charitra. Is it that
only brahmins to perform
achamana? If others can
perform can you tell me the
proper way to learn this? Thank
you.
Raja
Reply
bhargavasarma December 16,
2011 at 9:39 AM
Vedic activities can be learned
and practiced only by those who
are eligible and had upanayana
sanskara.
Reply

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