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Tag: Bath

  • Upachaaras Five Ten Sixty Four Offering To God

    The word Upachara’ in Sanskrit means flattery, when loosely translated.

    But the import of the word is  ‘welcoming, making one comfortable, saying things that ere agreeable, offering that are close to one’s heart’

    In Hindu tradition God is offered all these as we would one who visits our home.

    There are strict rules for this.

    There are different Upacharas.

    Five-Panchopachara,

    Six-Shadopachaara,

    Shodosupachaara-Sixteen.

    Chatushshasti-Sixtty Four.

    Some opt for  the Ten Upachaaaras.

    Of these   the sixty-four are practiced in temples, while Five or six are at Homes.

    In some texts, Snana or Bathing is taken as a Upachaara, while in some the other Upachaaras are done after the Bath(Snana)

    It may be noted that these procedures are not prescribed by the Vedas.

    These are later developments set by Smritis and for Temples in the Agama Shastra.

    Offerings God.
    Offerings to God.

    A. Pancha Upachaara.

    Gandha (Sandal wood paste),  Puhspa (Flowers), Dhupa (offering Incense),Deepa(Offering Oil Lamp)  and Naivedyam9Food, Fruits)

    B.Dasopachaara(Ten)

    Padyam (washing the feet) , Arghyam(Washing the Palms),  Acamaniyam (Special process of purification with water) ,Madhuparka(Honey )            Acamaniyam   ( Done again to purify after the use of hands in drinking) , Gandha,Pushpa,Dhupa, Deepa and Naivedyam  .

    C .Shodasopachara(16)

    1.Asana, Offering of Seat,also called Swagatham, Welcome

    2.Padyam,

    3.Argyam,

    4.Acamaniyam.

    5.Madhuparkam,

    6.Acamaniyam,

    7.Snaneeya,Bathing,

    8.Vastram,offering new clothes,

    9.Upavitam(offering the Sacred Thread)

    10.Alankara,Dressing up,

    11.Gandha,

    12.Pushpa,

    13.Dhupa.

    14.Deepa,

    15.Naivedyam

    16.Pranam,prostrating

    D.The Sixty Four Upachaaras.

    Early Morning activities:

    Waking the deity with vedic verses, praises, instrumental music.
    Offering a twig for brushing the teeth.
    Offering mangala aratika.
    Shouting jaya on seeing the deity.
    Offering pranamas to the Lord before entering for puja.

    Offering the Main Upacharas:

    Inviting the Lord (avahana), offering him a seat (asana), and making him comfortable (svagatam).
    Washing the Lord’s feet (padyam).
    Offering arghyam as a sign of welcome and respect.
    Offering water to wash the mouth (acamaniyam).
    Offering madhuparka, then water to wash the mouth.

    Offering the Lord shoes so that he may come to the bathing place.
    Cleaning the Lord’s body with a damp cloth to remove old chandana etc. (murti samskara).
    Rubbing the Lord’s body, especially the head,  with fragrant oils.
    Bathing the Lord in flower water.
    Bathing the Lord in milk.
    Bathing the Lord in yogurt.
    Bathing the Lord in ghee.
    Bathing the Lord in honey.
    Bathing the Lord in sugar.
    Bathing the Lord in water consecrated with mantras.

    Removing oil, ghee, etc, with flour, then warm water.
    Wiping the Lords body with a soft, dry cloth (anga vastra).
    Dressing the Lord in upper and lower cloth.

    Offering gayatri thread (upavita).
    Offering achamana again after dressing.

    Arranging the Lord’s hair.
    Decorating the Lord with bracelets, necklaces, rings etc.
    Offering kaustubha and other wonderful jewels.
    Offering various colors of clothing, belts, turbans, capes etc.
    Offering flowers to the Lord’s lotus feet. Applying gandha to the Lord’s feet with a Tulasi leaf.

    Offering incense.
    Offering lamps.
    Removing inauspicious influences, the glances of evil persons by mustard seeds etc.

    Offering naivedyam.
    Offering spices (mukha vasa).
    Offering betel (tambulam).
    Offering a couch for the Lord to relax in.
    Offering gandha again and decorating the Lord’s body with tilaka designs.
    Offering the Lord a crown.
    Offering varieties of flowers and garlands.

         Darshana:

    Offering a mirror.
    Offering chamara and umbrella.
    Singing.
    Playing instruments.
    Dancing.
    Offering aratika.
    Taking deity to a special mandapa.
    Bringing the Lord back to his throne.
         Bhoga Offering:

    Offering foot wash, mouth wash again.
    Offering another meal while burning incense.
    Offering betel, then performing aratika.

         Concluding Puja:

    Recitation of verses (stuti)
    Circumabulation of deity (pradakshina)
    Pranamas.

    Touching ones head at the lotus feet of the Lord (astanga pranama).
    The taking charanamrta and flower Prasad on one’s head.
    Taking the food remnants of the Lord.

     At  Night.

    Sitting at the feet of the Lord ready for service.
    Making a nice bed for the Lord, with  soft cloth, flowers and nice scented powders.
    Offering ones hand to the Lord, and offering him his shoes,  to bring him to the bed.
    Receiving the Lord at the bed with great festivity.
    Washing the Lord’s feet, then drying them, offering gandha, flowers, betel, condensed milk, fan.
    Having the Lord lie down in the bed and massaging his lotus feet.

    Ref.

    http://www.salagram.net/upacharas.html

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  • Rules Types Of Taking Bath Hinduism

    Hinduism accords highest priority to cleanliness both mental and physical.

    One is expected to take bath thrice a Day, one at early morning between 430 and 5, another at Noon and yet another around Dusk(6pm).

    One is expected to wash hand and feet when he returns home and wash hands and feet after taking food.

    One should take bath in either of the following, in the order provide.

    Bathing Rules.
    Hindu Way of Bathing.Bathing Rules.

    1.Running water(River)

    2.Tanks.

    3.Sea.

    4.Well in the House.

    Bathing in the Sea can be done when an opportunity is available and one has to take bath in normal water after Sea bathing.

    When river water is unavailable, well water at Home is recommended.

    There are different types of Bathing.

    1.Agnayaka Snam.

    One has to keep both his hands over the Head , face the East, close the eyes and let the rays of the Sun bathe.(about ten minutes).

    2.Mala Snanam.

    One can apply the Earth,Sand, Clay.

    Again for ten minutes.

    3.Mahendra Snanam.

    Taking bath in Water after Mala Snanam is Mahendra Snanam.

    4.Mantra Snanam.

    Taking bath with water purified by Kalasa Mantras for Agni, Varuna is Mantra Snananm.

    5.Mano Snanam.

    Reciting The Mantras of Vishnu and taking bath in the Mind is Mano Snanam.

    One has to worship the time between Dawn and Dusk, called Sandhi.

    The Location of Devatas in the hand.

    1.Fore finger of the Right hand,Pithrus.

    2.End of the Little Finger, Prajapathi.

    3.Tip of the Thumb, Brahma.

    4.Left Palm, Agni.

    5.Right Palm, Soma.

    6.The points where the Palms join the fingers belong to Maharishis.

    There are Mantras to be recited during Bathing.

    Please red under ‘Hinduism’.

    Source.Agni Purana.

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  • Of Bathing and Toweling

    Before some one rushes to imagine that this post is about “toweling’, akin to ‘Thighing’ in Islam, which has sexual connotations.

    ““A man can quench his sexual lusts with a child as young as a baby. However, he should not penetrate. Sodomizing the baby is halal (allowed by sharia). If the man penetrates and damages the child, then he should be responsible for her subsistence all her life. This girl, however, does not count as one of his four permanent wives. The man will not be eligible to marry the girl’s sister. It is better for a girl to marry when her menstruation starts, and at her husband’s house rather than her father’s home. Any father marrying his daughter so young will have a permanent place in heaven.’

    http://ramanisblog.in/2013/03/29/islam-and-women-thighing-and-some-sayings-of-khomeini/

    Well , this is about towelling after a Bath.

    There are various ways of taking bath,

    In The River, Ocean,Wells at Home,Ponds,From Buckets of Water and now Shower.

    River bath is recommended, while bathing in the ocean is done occasionally in India for Religious purposes.

    After bathing in the Ocean, bathing in normal water is advised.

    Then people used to take bath in Ponds in the town.

    There used to be at least two ponds in every India village.

    One used to be located just outside the village for bathing.

    Another one is in the Temple premises, used for sprinkling water on the head and washing feet before entering the Temple.

    Every Temple has three things as a Rule.

    Murthy(,Idol).Theertham(Pond) Vruksha (Tree)

    Concurrently the practice of bath in Wells dug in Homes.

    People also used to take bath by keeping the water taken from the Well in Bucket and bathe.

    And there is this excellent bathing Source, bathing in water being pumped out by a Pump-set in a Filed.

    And this is very refreshing to take the full force of Water gushing out of the Pump.

    Now onto Toweling.

    How To towel oneself after Bathing?

    If you towel your head first the towel becomes quite wet and it is uncomfortable to use it for the Body.

    Keeping two towels is fine , but some how the idea never appeals to me.

    If you towel the body first, then water keeps on dripping onto the body.

    So, take a portion of the towel, towel the head and keep the other portion to towel the Body.

    Then wring the towel and use it for the Body!

    And again, there are three types of Towels

    Modern Towels
    Modern Towels

    Handloom Towel what is normally in use.

    Handloom Towels
    Handloom Towels

    Turkey Towel, in vogue now and also in Five Star Hotels.

    Then comes my favorite Towel.

    The ‘Kasi Thundu’ , also called as ‘Pillaiyar Thundu , because it is used to be offered as the Offering to Lord Ganehsa to Adorn him.(பிள்ளையார் துண்டு ,பிள்ளையார் சவுக்கம்)

    Pillaiyar Towel,Kasi Thundu
    Pillaiyar Towel,Kasi Thundu

     

    Red in color, very thin and transparent, it absorbs water efficiently.

    It is  very cheap.

    One has tp wash it at least twice in water as soon as one buys it, to remove the Dye;even then you will have red patces on your Body and face for a couple of Baths!

    The only disadavnatage is that one can not wear it and move around, as one would with a Turkey Towel or a a handloom one as this kasi Thundu is very transparent!( depends on in front of whom you walk around)

    I am most uncomfortable with a Shower and feel as if I have never taken Bath if I take a Shower!

    In Five Star Hotels, I keep Water in a Bucket and Bathe, much to the amusement of others