SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImadh varavaramunayE nama:
1.6. snAnam
One needs to do snAnam (bathing) thrice a day. That is, before each sandhyAvandhanam one needs to do snAnam. Among them, prAtha snAnam is very important.
While sleeping at night our indhriyas become impure as higher and lower indhriyas attain same state. Bathing in morning purifies our indhriyas and helps in focusing towards gaining good knowledge. One should not perform japam, hOmam, etc., without taking snAnam. brAhmaNan who does prAtha snAnam every day, will get rid of his seven birth’s sins in three years. As per dhaksha smruthi, one who does snAnam will easily get ten qualities like form, brightness, strength, purity, longevity, good health, detachment from lowly things, destroys nightmare, confidence and brilliance.
There are different types of snAnam. Let us see important snAnam one by one.
a. vAruNa snAnam – This is dip bathing. One need to take a dip of his whole body inside water including his head.
b. pArthiva snAnam – Applying pure sand all over the body and asking mother Earth to remove all my sins through manthram starting with “mruththikE hana mE pApam”.
c. AgnEya snAnam – Applying ashes from agnihOthra kuNdam over body.
d. vAyavEya snAnam – reciting gOSAvitrI mantra and applying cow’s hoof dust on body to purify us.
e. dhivya snAnam or AkASa snAnam – Getting wet in rain with sun shine (rain with sun not covered in clouds).
f. manthra snAnam – Other than snAnam with five elements (panchabhUtha snAnam ), saying “ApOhistA” manthra and doing prOkshaNam on head, chest and legs.
g. mAnaSa snAnam – By dwelling in thoughts of SrIman nArAyaNan’s SrIpAdha thIrtham, that is, river gangA which removes all our impurities from inside.
h. panchAnga snAnam – Washing two legs, two hands and face.
i. kApila snAnam – Wiping entire body with a wet cloth.
j. Urdhva puNdra dhAraNam snAnam – Applying Urdhva puNdra dhAraNam and reciting praNavam.
While taking bath, one need to think of SrIman nArAyaNan.
“ApO nArA iti prOkthAs thA yadhaSyAyanam puna: |
thasmAn nArAyNam dhEvam snAnakAlE smarEdh pudha: ||”
As mentioned by vEdha vyAsar, a yOgi needs to think of SrIman nArAyaNan while doing snAnam as SrIman nArAyaNan resides in water/ jalam. Water is called as nAram as SrIman nArAyaNan resides in it.
“dhyAyEn nArAyaNam dhEvam snAnAdhishO cha karmashO |
prAyaschiththEshO SarvEshO muchyathE dushkruthAth pumAn ||”
As mentioned by Saunakar, one who meditates on SrIman nArAyaNan while
doing karmas like snAnam & atonement gets rid of all his sins.
In the next post, we will see about vasthra dhAraNam, Urdhva puNdra dhAraNam
adiyen madhusUdhana rAmAnuja dhAsan
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