NAMPOOTHIRIES PART 9
15 NITHYAKARMA- (Daily rites of a Namboothiri)
It is to beremembered that only a very abbreviated idea of the rites is given
here andthat books/ manuals/ priests should be consulted for an actual
performance.
Also, actualsteps vary slightly among Vedic recensions like Kausheethakan,
Aaswalaayanan,Baadhoolakan, Boudhaayanan and Saamavedi Namboothiris. These
details are taken from theprescribed reference manuals.
A. FOR ALL NAMBOOTHIRIS
1. Uthhana Vidhi (Getting up in the morning): Wakeup at Braahma muhoortham at
five in the morning, two `Nazhikas' (48 minutes)before sunrise. Turn to the
right side, say "Kesawaaya Namah" before sitting up, and,turning to the east,
say a prayer to any one of the gods (Mangala praartthana).
Seek theblessings of Bhoomidevi, the goddess of earth, by first touching the
floor withthe right hand and then touching the head, before actually getting up
from thebed.
My note- It is a practice to ask a person whetheryou got up to Left among
iyers when he is angry or irritating in the morning.
2. Aachamanam: This is the prescribed andsymbolic way of cleaning of various
parts of the face, head, chest and feet.Two such "Aachamanams" make one "Kaal
Kazhukal", or"Paadaprakshaalanam". Note that the literal translation
of"Kaalkazhukal" is "Washing the feet", but it is not just
foot-cleaning.Aachamanam is performed after bathing and during other important
occasions in aday. There are prescribed methods for tooth and tongue cleaning.
3. Snaana Vidhi (Bathing): After Soucha Vidhi,bathing is done as follows. Step
into the water halfway (abdomen level), prayto the sacred rivers (Ganga,Yamuna,
Saraswathi, Narmada, Sindhu and Cauvery), look north or eastand dip the whole
body under water once, rub the entire body clean with thepalms and dip again
twice. (Modern generation Namboothiris use toilet soapshere). Stand upright at
the same spot and do Aachamanam twice.
4. Thalichukuli (Sprinkle-bath): After Aachamanam,take water in the right hand,
chant "Aapohishta..." Manthram (threestanzas from Rigvedam) and sprinkle on the
head, repeating this for each of thethree stanzas. Say "Gange Mam Puneehi"
thrice and immerse fully inwater once more. Stricter procedure requires the
Aachamanam and Thalichukuli onthe banks of the pond.
Thereafter,wring the towel, wipe the body dry meanwhile chanting various
Manthrams. Tie(or twist) the tuft of hair [Click here for "Sikha" or"Kuduma"
(Tuft or Lock of Hair)] (if it exists), do `Kaalkazhukal'and give "Arghiam".
5. Arghia Vidhi: Sit with knees up, do"Kaalkazhukal" twice and
"Aachamanam".Chant "Aapohishta..." and spray water on the face, repeating
aftereach of the three stanzas. Take water with both palms joined, stand up,
chantGayathri Manthram (Om Bhoorbhuva Swa:, Tatsavithur Varenyam, Bhargo
DevasyaDhee Mahi, Dhiyo Yo Na: Prachodayaat) and throw the water up and away,
do thisthrice – this is called `Arghiam' offer. Take water in the right hand,
pour it on the left palm,turn around to the right once, sit down and do
"Tharpanam".
"Tharpanam" consists of offering water fromthepalm thrice each of "Deva",
"Devaganam", "Rshi","Rshiganam", "Pithru" and "Pithruganaam", holdingthe
"Yajnasoothram" ("Poonool", sacred cross-thread) firstin the normal position,
then with Poonool straight around the neck only andthen around the left arm.
This is called "Kuli-Upasthanam" and is tobe done after every bath.
Thereafter, put the "Poonool" in thenormal position, wring the towel, do
"Kaalkazhukal" and"Aachamanam", hang the towel on the left forearm and
perform"Sandhyaavandanam".
6. Manthrochaarana Vidhi: It is very important toconcentrate single-mindedly
in the specific focus prescribed for each Manthram,though this is quite
difficult. Do not let the mind stray away.
7. Sandhyaavandana Vidhi: (Obeisance prayer tothe three Sandhyas, morning,
noon and evening) "Sandhya" denotes thetime just before sunrise and just after
sunset. Brahmanans generally believedin a `sandhya' at noon too).
Stand erect facing east (sit facing west in theevening) and perform
"Sandhyaavandanam" with single-mindedconcentration and utmost Bhakthi towards
Lord Maha Vishnu.
Do"Brahmaprajaapathi Chhandas", chant "Pranavam" (Om) 108times (about 40 per
min.), then "Dasapranavam" (Om Bhoo: Om Bhuva:etc.), "Gaathhinoviswaamithra",
(Gayathri) Chhandas, then chantGayathri 108 times, do Gayathri Chhandas, again
chant Pranavam 108 times (the"Kausheethakans" will do "Rahugunogothama
Chhandas" andchant "Aanobhadram", at this stage, in a sitting posture),
andthereafter complete the Sandhyaavandanam" ("Sandhya Mutikkuka"or
"Anthyutikkuka" in short).
Thecompletion process involves keeping the palms together in front of the
chestand chanting "Mithrasya ....... Na Dooral" ("Imam Me" ....,for evening),
then "Indraaya Nama" ("Varunaaya Nama"....,for evening) in the four directions
(some do it in 8 directions), then upwards(to the sky) and downwards (to the
earth). Turn around to the right 7 times,touch the right ear and then the floor
below and say "Dhruvaasi".
Stand up, do"Sandhyaanaaarayanam" Chhandas, chant "Om NamoNaaraayanaaya" eight
times and do the Chhandas again. This completes the"Sandhyaavandanam".
Remember that morning "Sandhya" beginsonly four "Nazhikas" before sunrise.
Arghiam should not beoffered before that. Also, completing "Sandhyaavandanam"
should bedone only after sunrise (reckoned not as sighting of the sun, but when
it isbright enough to identify the hairs, says on the arms). Balance time, if
any,is to be spent prolonging chant of Gayathri beyond 108. Counting is easily
doneusing the fingers on both hands, left hand fingers for tens and right,
forunit.
8. Bhasmadhaarana Vidhi (Bhasmam application):
This is the first thing to be done after"Sandhyaavandanam". Do "Kaalkazhukal"
and"Aachamanam", take a small amount of "Bhasmam" in the lefthand, sit facing
north, take water in the right hand, chant"Aapohi..." and splash on the face
and on the "Bhasmam",repeating three times. Apply the required amount of water
in the"Bhasmam" while chanting "Sannodevi...". Chant "OmNamssivaaya" and apply
the "Bhasmam" on 1. head, 2. forehead, 3.neck, 4. right shoulder with right
hand, 5. right arm (outside biceps) withleft hand 6. left arm with right arm,
7. chest, and then 8. back with bothhands, chanting "Panchaaksharam"
(Namassivaaya) every time. Then,using both hands, apply on the abdomen, both
knees, ankles and feet.
Then chantthrishtup "Jaathavedase..." and do `Vyaapakam' once,i.e.,with
bothhands, go over the whole body from head to foot, and
chanting`Panchaaksharam", do Vyaapakam twice. After "Bhasmam"application, the
hands are not supposed to be washed, but this condition isusually waived.
In the evening, it is the same, except for dry,single line application
("Aapohi...." not done).
9. Namaskaara Vidhi: This prescribes the way toprostrate before the Sun from
an upright position, repeating as many times aspossible, while chanting Rik's
relating to Sun (Sauram or Aaditya Manthram).Anyone doing this 100 times every
morning is certain to have a healthy body,disease-free life and a better
performance of mental faculties. "Soorya Namaskaaram",as it is called, is not
just a religious rite but an exercise regimen for thebody, mind and spirit, and
has been accepted as such in many parts of theworld. If "Prathyaksha
Namaskaaram" or out in the open whence the suncan be seen and felt (this is
ideal), may be done indoors.
As this is an exercise, kindly do not perform itwithout consulting a doctor.
The Manthrams neednot be necessarily for Sun, but may also be for the Family/
Personal/ Communitydeity, and usually start with Guru, Ganapathi,
Dakshinaamoorthy, Saraswathi andVyaasan, before praying to Sun or the other
gods.
10. Bhakshana Vidhi: Even for taking food, there arecertain prescribed
procedures.
While eating meals, sit facing east orwest, south is permissible if
unavoidable, but north is taboo!
Serve allthe required food in the beginning itself, since serving again to
polluted leafis considered bad. This, however, is often overlooked, though some
Namboothirisstill use an additional leaf. Serve rice and dry cooked vegetables,
then someghee (melted butter) on the rice (called "Upastharanam") and
do"Kutikkuneer Veezhthal" by chanting the prescribed Manthram, beforeother
items are served. Chant "Sathyamthwarthena...", do"Pranaahuthi", and eat
slowly. After food, drink one handful of waterchanting "Amruthaa...", which
also is called "Kutikkuneerveezhthal". Wash the hands, mouth and feet and do
"Aachamanam".Any meal (even snacks) with hand-mouth contact needs this
procedure. Betweenmeals, snacks are not at all recommended. After meals, touch
the stomach withthe right hand and chant "Vedamantrams" especially " Pithum
NuSthosham..." for easier digestion and to prevent stomach upsets andproblems.
Reciting "Raamachandraashtakam", "Vaasudevaashtakam",Vishnu Sahasranaamam" and
other Stothrams follows this. Walk whilechanting these, since sitting after
meals is not healthy. Sleeping duringdaytime is not permitted.
The whole mouth (lips, tongue,teeth,saliva,spit, etc.) is considered polluted
("Asudhi" or"Echil"). Anything coming in contact withthese or the leaf, and
leftovers after meals, gets polluted and in turnpollutes others on touch. All
such things or body parts have to be washed inwater before re-use.
Floors, walls or other areas thus polluted needstobe cleaned or sprayed with
water containing some cow-dung, which is said tohave tremendous cleaning
properties!
pollutiondoes not exist in the case of children under three, and with children
betweenthree and five, parents are exempted from pollution.
While drinking water, the container should nottouch the lips or any other parts
of the mouth. Solid food if eaten betweenmeals should be broken, cut or sliced
into pieces and dropped into the mouth.
The main aim of all such "Vidhis" orstrictures/ guidelines/ prescriptions is to
ensure health,hygiene and mental peace through codification and consequent
strict adherence.
All, andespecially the modern Namboothiri community, should understand this.
My note- It appears Madhayannikam is not told forNampoothiries from reading the
above.
I will continue in next posting
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