Manthra /Maanasa/ Mukhya/GowNa SnAnams

[Guest guest]

Iswara Samvathsaram , Maargazhi 6

KrishNa paksham , Sapthami

Poora Nakshthram

PuLLum Silambina KaaNN Thiruppavai day

December 21 , 1997

 

Dear BhakthAs of Sriman NaarAyaNA :

 

I will translate the manthrams of Maanasa SnAnam

as per the request of Sri Gopalaswamy in this posting .

 

As a part of sadAchAram and anushtAnam , Sri VaishNavAs

have prescribed rules for performing their daily abolutions

( snAnams ) to prepare themselves properly for

the daily AarAdhanams for their Lord , Sriman NaarAyaNA .

 

Vangipuram Nampi , who was a direct disciple

of AchArya RaamAnujA received instructions from his guru

on Sri ViashNava DiancharyA and elaborated on his AchAryA's

Nithya Grantham in his kArikai . Swami Desikan covered many of

these topics related to SnAnam mainly in his PaancharAthra

RakshA , Saccharithra RakshA and briefly in Srimadh

Rahasya Traya Saaram ( SaadhyOpAya SodhanAdhikAram

and PrabhAva vyavasthAthikAram chapters ) .

 

In Sri Sannidhi ( AhObila Matam sampradhAyam ) ,

the 26th Jeeyar ( SrivaNN SatakOpa Sri RanganAtha

SatakOPa Yatheendhra MahA Desikan ) blessed us

with a grantham revered as " VaishNava SadAchAra

NirNayam " to enhance Jn~Anam , AnushtAnam and

Athma GuNams . The 42nd Jeeeyar ( Injimettu Azhagiya

Singar ) edited the original text and corrected the mistakes

that had crept in and rereleased this grantham of Sri Sannidhi .

 

The current Jeeyar ( SrivaNN SatakOpa Sri NaaRAyaNa

Yatheendhra MahA Desikan ) released a magnificiently

rich edition of the Ahnika Grantham of the 26 th and 42nd

Jeeyar for our benefit in 1990 . Those who wish to obtain

additional information are referred to these mula granthams.

I will summarize briefly the different types of SnAnams and

the meaning of the manthrams of Maanasa SnAnam here .

The Major categories of SnAnams are of two kinds ;

Mukhya SanAnam and GowNa SnAnam . There are

subcategories under them , which we will not cover here .

 

Manthra SnAnam precedes Maanasa SnAnam .

The Manthra SnAnam starts with " Om ApOhishTA

mayO bhuva: an dends with " Om ApO janayathA cha na: "

There are 9 manthrams here and appropriate

sprinkling of water ( PrOkshaNams ) here on

the head , heart and foot regions . The Maanasa SnAnam

starts thereafter . Manasa SnAnam is the most sacred of

all snAnams according to our AchAryAs . Swami Desikan

states with authority, " Maanasam VishNu chinthanam " .

For those , who is unable to perform VaaruNa SnAnam

( Taking a bath by immersion in water ) due to illness

or other inconveniences , Manasa SnAnam is vital . It

is also performed before wearing Urdhva Pundrams and

PrAtha: SandhyA Vandhanam .

 

One should meditate upon AkAsa GangA that flowed from

the scred feet of Trivikraman falling on our head and entering

our body through Brahma Randhram ( a sacred cavity in our

head ) and permeate all through our inside and then flow

outside and cleanse us of all dirts and blemishes . At that time ,

we should meditate on the glorious subhAsrayam ( ThirumEni )

of Sriman NaarAyaNA from His lotus feet to the sacred Thirumudi .

Then the Maanasa SnAna Slokams are recited .

 

First SlOkam : khasthitham -----

 

Khasthitham = One who resides in Sri Vaikuntam

PundareekAksham = One who has the eyes similar to the Red

lotus in its beauty and softness (

SenthAmaraik

- KaNNan

ManthramUrthim = One who is the embodiment of PanchOpanishad

manthrams

Harim SmarEth= One should reflect on Hari of these attributes .

 

AnanthAdhithya SankAsam VaasudEvam Chathur Bhujam =

( We should meditate on Him ) , who has the lustre of limitless

AdhithyAs ( Suns ) and who is the VaasudEva Murthy with four

arms .

 

SlOkam 2 :

Sankha Chakra gadhA dhAriNam vanamAlinam I

syAmalam Saantha Hrudhayam divya PeethambharAvrutham II

 

He is the One fit for meditation with Paanchajanyam , Sudarsanam ,

divine mace and a beautiful red lotus in His four hands. He is wearing

a fragrant garland known as VanamAlai ( Garland made of wild

flowers of the forest ) . He has the hue of a dark green mountain

( Pacchai maamalai pOl mEni ) . He has the most compassionate

and tranquil disposition ( Hrudhayam ) . He wears the divine

golden yellow garment in His waist ( PeethAmbharam ) .

( That is how we should meditate on Him )

 

SlOkam 3 :

divya Chandhana lipthAngam ChaaruhAsam subhEkshaNam I

anEka rathna samchannam spuran makara Kundalam II

 

He has divine sandal paste smeared on His limbs ;

He has the most captivating smile ; He has the benovolent

glances that banish all inauspiciousness ; His body is hidden

under the many pieces of divine jewelery adorning Him ; His

ears are resplendent with shining Makara kundalams .

 

SlOkam 4 :

NaaradhAdhibhirAsEvyam bhAsvadhvimala kankaNam I

SakinkiNaeeka kEyUradhAiNam makuTojvalam II

 

He is surrounded by Sages like NaaradhA who are

eulogizing Him .He is wearing the resplendent

bracelets ( KankaNams ) on His wrists. He is further

adorned by KinkiNee ( silampu with bells as ankle

ornaments ) and upeer arm jewelery ( KEyUrams) and

looks beautiful . On His head rests the splendidly

radiant crown .

 

SlOkam 5 :

Dhvaja vajrAnkusa lakshya Paadha padmam sunirmalam I

tath paadhapadmajAm GangAm nipathantheem svamUrdhani II

 

As the supreme Lord , the soles of His lotus feet carry the insignia

of Flag , Vajram ( Ayudham , the back bone of sage Marichee) ,

and Goad ; those sacred feet are pristinely pure and destroy

every kind of inauspiciousness . From those lotus feet flows

the sacred GangA and that pravAham falls on my head .

 

SlOkam 6 :

 

cinthayEdh brahmarandhrENa pravisantheem svikAm thanum I

tayA samkshAlitham dhyAyEdh bhAyamAbhayantharam malam II

 

That sacred Ganga should be meditated upon as entering

one's body through the brahma randhram ( cavity in the head ) ,

flowing through out the inside and outside of the body and

removing all malams ( sins and blemishes) .

 

Ithyuktham Maanasam SnAnam sarva snAnAdhikam param I

Ithi Maanasa SnAnam KuryAth II

 

This is the Maanasa SnAnaanam prescribed

by the sacred ones ( Sages ) as the best among all

kinds of abolutions to prepare oneself for Bhagavdh

ArAdhanam and Kaimkaryam .

 

Subhamasthu , Saanthirasthu

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan