Achamana

Achamanam (achamana, achmana) is one of the most important rituals in the Hindu tradition. It is a male purification ritual that is believed to cure all physical and mental illnesses.[1] As such, it is performed prior to almost all other Brahmin rituals.

Times when necessary

Achamanam generally precedes all Brahmin rituals, as it is necessary to be purified for the performance of all other major rituals. However, various daily acts are also believed to invalidate one's purity in the Hindu tradition, and achamanam is to be performed in order to rectify this. These occasions include:

Performance of Achamanam

There are various forms of Achamanam depending on which set of Hindu beliefs one ascribes to and the context within which one is performing the ritual. The most common forms of Achamanam are the smriti and pañcaratra achamana, and they are the most generally practiced. The next most common is the purana form, which is primarily practiced by Vaishnavites but is often appropriated by Shaivites and others as well.

Smriti and Smarta achamana

The simplest versions of achamanam consist of swallowing(not sipping) water 3 times from the Brahma-Grantha (base of the right thumb) while reciting different mantras in praise of the lord. Water is first poured into the cupped palm of the right hand. One then recites the specific mantra and silently swallows the water from the base of the thumb.

In the pañcaratra achamanam, the three mantras are:

  1. Achyutaya Namaha (In the Name of the Innumerable Lord)
  2. Anantaya Namaha (In the Name of the Infinite Lord)
  3. Govindaya Namaha (In the name of Lord Govinda)

In the smriti form, one recites parts of the Gayatri mantra while swallowing water:

  1. Tát savitúr váreṇyaṃ
  2. Bhárgo devásya dhīmahi
  3. Dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt

These forms of achamanam are performed constantly throughout most major Hindu rituals. Important examples include marriages and upanayana.

Purana achamana

As part of sandhyavandanam, some of the achamana are replaced by the longer purana achamana, which extends the sruti achamanam. First, the sruti is performed, and then it is extended to the purification of the chakras through the touching of certain fingers of the right hand to certain points on the face and body, along with mantras. These are:

  1. Keshavaya Namaha - Thumb to touch the right cheek
  2. Narayanaya Namaha - Thumb, left cheek
  3. Madhavaya Namaha - Ring finger, right eye
  4. Govindaya Namaha - Ring finger, left eye
  5. Vishnave Namaha - Index finger, left side of the nose
  6. Madhusudhanaya Namaha - Index finger, right side of the nose
  7. Trivikramaya Namaha - little finger, right ear
  8. Vamanaya Namaha - little finger, left ear
  9. Shridharaya Namaha - third (middle) finger, right shoulder
  10. Hrishikeshaya Namaha - third finger, left shoulder
  11. Padmanabhaya Namaha - four fingers (hand with thumb folded inwards), navel
  12. Damodaraya Namaha - four fingers, head.
  13. Sankarshanaya namaha
  14. Vasudevaya namaha
  15. Pradyumnaya namaha
  16. Anirudhaya namaha
  17. Purushothamaya namaha
  18. Adhokshajaya namaha
  19. Narasimhaya namaha
  20. Achyutaya namaha
  21. Janardanaya namaha
  22. Upendraya namaha
  23. Hariye namaha
  24. Sri krishnaya namaha

These may be performed whether or not a ritual is to follow; its significance in ritual purification is as valid as "basic" achamanam, and vice versa.

When Achamanam is forbidden

Achamanam is not to be done immediately after taking prasad, or swallowing tirtha - as these are holy and pure in itself and the symbolic act of purifying oneself through achamanam insults these articles' holiness.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/sandhya/yv/achamanam-n.html