Putting on Tilaka and Acamana
Video explaining acamana
Sit on a proper sitting place (asana). (If there is no asana, kneel with your right knee touching the floor and your left foot flat on the floor.)
Sit on a proper sitting place (asana). (If there is no asana, kneel with your right knee touching the floor and your left foot flat on the floor.)
prthvi tvaya dhrta loka
devi tvam visnuna dhrta
tvam ca dharaya mam nityam
pavitram casanam kuru
O Mother Earth, O goddess, you support all the world's people, and Lord Visnu sustains you; please be merciful today and support me as I sit to worship the Lord.
One should pour a little water into the palm of his left hand and rub gopi-chandana (mud from Dwaraka) into it. One can chant the following mantra from the Uttara Khanda of the Padma Purana:
lalate kesavam dhyayen
narayanam athodare
vaksa-sthale madhavam tu
govindam kantha-kupake
visnum ca dakshine kuksau
bahau ca madhusudanam
trivikramam kandare tu
vamanam vama-parsvake
sridharam vama-bahau tu
hrishikesam ca kandhare
pristhe tu padma-nabham ca
katyam damodaram nyaset
tat praksalana-toyam tu
vasudeveti murdhani
lalate - on the forehead; kesavam - unto Lord Kesava; dhayet - one should meditate upon;
narayanam - unto Lord Narayana; athodare - abdomen; vaksah - chest; sthale - place; madhavam - unto Lord Madhava; tu - also; govindam - unto Lord Govinda; kantha - throat; kupaka - hole; visnum - unto Lord Visnu; ca - and; daksine - on the right side; kuksau - abdomen; bahau - arm; ca - and; madhusudanam - unto Lord Madhusudana; trivikramam - unto Lord Trivikrama; kandare - in the cavern; tu - also; vamanam - unto Lord Vamana; vame - on the left; parsvake - on the side; sridharam - unto Lord Sridhara;
tat - it; praksalana - washing; toyam - water; vasudevah iti - by the name of Vasudeva; murdhani- on the head
”When one marks the forehead with tilaka, he must remember Kesava. When one marks the lower abdomen, he must remember Narayana. For the chest, one should remember Madhava, and when marking the hollow of the neck one should remember Govinda. Lord Visnu should be remembered while marking the right side of the belly, and Madhusudana should be remembered when marking the right arm. Trivikrama should be remembered when marking the right shoulder, and Vamana should be remembered when marking the left side of the belly. Sridhara should be remembered while marking the left arm, and Hrsikesa should be remembered when marking the left shoulder. Padmanabha and Damodara should be remembered when marking the back.” From CC Madhya-lila 20.202
How to put on tilaka
Apply tilaka with the ring finger.
The forehead - om kesavaya namaha
The belly - om narayanaya namaha
The chest - om madhavaya namaha
The throat - om govindaya namaha
The right side of the waist - om visnave namaha
The right upper arm - om madhusudanaya namaha
The right shoulder - om trivikramaya namaha
The left side of the waist - om vamanaya namaha
The left upper arm - om sridharaya namaha
The left shoulder - om hrsikesaya namaha
The upper back - om padmanabhaya namaha
The lower back - om damodaraya namaha
om vasudevaya namaha.
Establishing samanya-arghya (purifying water):
Establish samanya-arghya - purify or eternalize (sat) with the mind (mana or manya) water (arghya), before starting the worship. You can use it for purification by proksana and for offering various upacaras (items) by substitution in the worship of personalities before worshiping the main Deity. Fresh samanya-arghya should be established at least twice a day.
lalate - on the forehead; kesavam - unto Lord Kesava; dhayet - one should meditate upon;
narayanam - unto Lord Narayana; athodare - abdomen; vaksah - chest; sthale - place; madhavam - unto Lord Madhava; tu - also; govindam - unto Lord Govinda; kantha - throat; kupaka - hole; visnum - unto Lord Visnu; ca - and; daksine - on the right side; kuksau - abdomen; bahau - arm; ca - and; madhusudanam - unto Lord Madhusudana; trivikramam - unto Lord Trivikrama; kandare - in the cavern; tu - also; vamanam - unto Lord Vamana; vame - on the left; parsvake - on the side; sridharam - unto Lord Sridhara;
tat - it; praksalana - washing; toyam - water; vasudevah iti - by the name of Vasudeva; murdhani- on the head
”When one marks the forehead with tilaka, he must remember Kesava. When one marks the lower abdomen, he must remember Narayana. For the chest, one should remember Madhava, and when marking the hollow of the neck one should remember Govinda. Lord Visnu should be remembered while marking the right side of the belly, and Madhusudana should be remembered when marking the right arm. Trivikrama should be remembered when marking the right shoulder, and Vamana should be remembered when marking the left side of the belly. Sridhara should be remembered while marking the left arm, and Hrsikesa should be remembered when marking the left shoulder. Padmanabha and Damodara should be remembered when marking the back.” From CC Madhya-lila 20.202
How to put on tilaka
Apply tilaka with the ring finger.
The forehead - om kesavaya namaha
The belly - om narayanaya namaha
The chest - om madhavaya namaha
The throat - om govindaya namaha
The right side of the waist - om visnave namaha
The right upper arm - om madhusudanaya namaha
The right shoulder - om trivikramaya namaha
The left side of the waist - om vamanaya namaha
The left upper arm - om sridharaya namaha
The left shoulder - om hrsikesaya namaha
The upper back - om padmanabhaya namaha
The lower back - om damodaraya namaha
Wash your hand, and whatever water is left can be wiped on the crown of the head with the mantra:
om vasudevaya namaha.
Additionally you can chant each sentence of the previous mantra when applying tilak, and chant the standard mantra's when making the space with your ring finger.
APPLYING TILAK CLEAR SPACE LOCATION
om vasudevaya namaha.
APPLYING TILAK CLEAR SPACE LOCATION
lalate keshavam dhyayen om kesavaya namaha The forehead
When one marks the forehead with tilaka, he must remember Kesava.
narayanam athodare om narayanaya namaha The belly
When one marks the lower abdomen, he must remember Narayana.
vaksa-sthale madhavam tu om madhavaya namaha The chest
For the chest, one should remember Madhava,
govindam kantha-kupake govindaya namaha The throat
and when marking the hollow of the neck one should remember Govinda.
visnum ca dakshine kuksau om visnave namaha The right side of the waist
Lord Visnu should be remembered while marking the right side of the belly,
bahau ca madhusudanam om madhusudanaya namaha The right upper arm
and Madhusudana should be remembered when marking the right arm.
trivikramam kandare tu om trivikramaya namaha The right shoulder
Trivikrama should be remembered when marking the right shoulder,
vamanam vama-parshvake om vamanaya namaha The left side of the waist
and Vamana should be remembered when marking the left side of the belly.
sridharam vama-bahau tu om sridharaya namaha The left upper arm
Sridhara should be remembered while marking the left arm,
hrisikesam ca kandhare om hrsikesaya namaha The left shoulder
and Hrsikesa should be remembered when marking the left shoulder.
pristhe tu padma-nabham ca om padmanabhaya namaha The upper back
Padmanabha should be remembered when marking the back.
katyam damodaram nyaset om damodaraya namaha The lower back
And Damodara should be remembered when marking the back.
Wash your hand while chanting:
tat prakshalana-toyam tu
vasudeveti murdhani
and whatever water is left can be wiped on the crown of the head with the mantra:
For Deity-worship or extended purification, purify the body with acaman.
With an acamana-patra (a sacred copper cup) filled with water, clean both hands by sprinkling them with water; holding the acamana spoon in your left hand, pour a few drops into the right palm. While looking at the water chant the appropriate mantra and then silently sip the water from the base of the right thumb (the brahma-tirtha).
The procedure for basic acamana consists of the first three steps below. If time and circumstances permit, you may perform the complete acamana:
While chanting the following mantras, perform the hand motions:
Now chant the following mantra from the Rg Veda while showing the pranama-mudra (or atmanjali mudra - palms together in front of your heart):
om tad visnoh paramam padakam
sada pasyanti surayah
diviva caksur atatam
tad vipraso vipanyavo
jagrvakam sah samindhate
visnor yat paramam padam
With an acamana-patra (a sacred copper cup) filled with water, clean both hands by sprinkling them with water; holding the acamana spoon in your left hand, pour a few drops into the right palm. While looking at the water chant the appropriate mantra and then silently sip the water from the base of the right thumb (the brahma-tirtha).
The procedure for basic acamana consists of the first three steps below. If time and circumstances permit, you may perform the complete acamana:
Put water form the acamana cup into your right hand and chant om kesavaya namah into the water and sip water from the brahma-tirtha of your right hand. Clean your right hand.
Put water form the acamana cup into your right hand and chant om narayanaya namah into the water and sip water from the brahma-tirtha of your right hand. Clean your right hand.
Put water form the acamana cup into your right hand and chant om madhavaya namah into the water and sip water from the brahma-tirtha of your right hand. Clean your right hand.
Put water form the acamana cup into your right hand and chant om govindaya namah into the water and discard the water.
Put water form the acamana cup into your left hand and chant om visnave namah into the water and discard the water.
Chant om madhusudanaya namah into your hand and touch your right cheek with the fingers of your right hand.
Chant om trivikramaya namah into your hand and touch your left cheek with the fingers of your right hand.
Chant om vamanaya namah into your hand and wipe above your upper lip with the base of your right thumb.
Chant om sridharaya namah into your hand and wipe below your lower lip with the base of your right thumb.
Put water form the acamana cup into your right hand and chant om hrsikesaya namah into the water and sprinkle water on your left hand.
Put water form the acamana cup into your right hand and chant om padmanabhaya namah into the water and sprinkle water on your feet.
Put water form the acamana cup into your right hand and chant om damodaraya namah into the water and sprinkle water on the top of your head.
While chanting the following mantras, perform the hand motions:
Chant om vasudevaya namah and touch your upper and lower lips with the tips of the fingers of your right hand.
Chant om sankarsanaya namah and touch your right nostril with your right thumb and index finger (forefinger).
Chant om pradyumnaya namah and touch your left nostril with your right thumb and index finger (forefinger).
Chant om aniruddhaya namah and touch your right eye with your right thumb and ring finger.
Chant om purusottamaya namah and touch your left eye with your right thumb and ring finger.
Chant om adhoksajaya namah and touch your right ear with your right thumb and forefinger.
Chant om nrsimhaya namah and touch your left ear with your right thumb and forefinger.
Chant om acyutaya namah and touch your navel with your right thumb and little finger.
Chant om janardanaya namah and touch your heart with the palm of your right hand.
Chant om upendraya namah and touch your head with all the finger tips of your right hand.
Chant om haraye namah and touch your right upper arm with the fingertips of your left hand.
Chant om krsnaya namah and touch your left upper arm with the fingertips of your right hand.
Now chant the following mantra from the Rg Veda while showing the pranama-mudra (or atmanjali mudra - palms together in front of your heart):
om tad visnoh paramam padakam
sada pasyanti surayah
diviva caksur atatam
tad vipraso vipanyavo
jagrvakam sah samindhate
visnor yat paramam padam
Om shanti shanti shantih
Just as those with ordinary vision see the sun’s rays in the sky, so the wise and learned devotees always see the supreme abode of Lord Visnu. Because those highly praiseworthy and spiritually awake brahmanas can see that abode, they can also reveal it to others. [Rg Veda Samhita 1.22.20-21]
The following is the original mantra, but the above version gives the proper pronunciation.
(om) tad visnoh paramam pad(ak)am
sada pasyanti surayah
diviva caksur atatam
tad vipraso vipanyavo
jagrva(ka)msah samindhate
visnor yat paramam padam
Just as those with ordinary vision see the sun’s rays in the sky, so the wise and learned devotees always see the supreme abode of Lord Visnu. Because those highly praiseworthy and spiritually awake brahmanas can see that abode, they can also reveal it to others. [Rg Veda Samhita 1.22.20-21]
The following is the original mantra, but the above version gives the proper pronunciation.
(om) tad visnoh paramam pad(ak)am
sada pasyanti surayah
diviva caksur atatam
tad vipraso vipanyavo
jagrva(ka)msah samindhate
visnor yat paramam padam
Video from the Deity Worship Ministry: Click here
Another video showing acamana: Click here
Video from the Bhaktivedanta Academy Mayapur: Clikc here
Establishing samanya-arghya (purifying water):
Establish samanya-arghya - purify or eternalize (sat) with the mind (mana or manya) water (arghya), before starting the worship. You can use it for purification by proksana and for offering various upacaras (items) by substitution in the worship of personalities before worshiping the main Deity. Fresh samanya-arghya should be established at least twice a day.
Place empty the panca-patra. Fill it with fresh water. After pouring a few drops of water from the acamana-patra onto the fingers of your right hand, purify the panca-patra by proksana:
Chant:
om astraya phat
and sprinkle the water on the panca-patra.
Over the panca-patra show the cakra-mudra, then the galini-mudra, and finally the dhenu-mudra (or surabhi-mudra).
Invoke the Ganga and other holy rivers by showing the ankusa-mudra (page 77, in the link) while slightly touching the water with the bottom tip of the middle finger and chanting:
gange ca yamune caiva
godavari sarasvati
narmade sindho kaveri
jale ’smin sannidhim kuru
Now invoke the bija-syllable:
om
into the water, chanting it eight times silently while holding the bijaksara-mudra (page 20, in the link) over the panca-patra. Then show the matsya-mudra over the panca-patra. You can end the ceremony with the pranama-mudra.
All mudras
Video explaining acamana
1. How to put on tilaka
2. How to put one tilaka
3. How to put on tilaka
2. Deity Worship Book
Mudras explained (in Spanish)
Daily Practice
Explanation of the different fingers
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