Pooja rules and procedures

[Guest guest]

Dear members,

 

I intend to perform 30 minutes pooja everyday in the morning and say a full

fledged longer one on weekends falling on Fridays. I request the forum to guide

me in this .I have Vighraham of Lakshmi Narasimhan perumal our Family Deity (

which my young son got as a spl gift mystically) and Vinayaka and Devi. I want

to know from Learned members the procedures, slokams until aarthi and utensils I

need to keep etc. I know Vishnu saharsanamam, some stothrams of Vedanta Desikan

Swamigal and also have Tiruppavai text.

 

Can you please guide me , as I want to start well before my father's ceremony

falling on 15/02/03. Iam in a middle east country where there is some difficulty

in getting personal training, which I will still explore keeping your inputs as

well , as a reference.

 

(Just for information I am a vadakalai iyenger)

 

V K Vijayaraghavan

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Respected Sir :

 

Being a member of this holy forum, one hardly needs to be reminded about

the paramount supremacy of Sandhyavandanam. However, since this writer's

perennial interests have been in Sandhyavandanam, Gayathri Mantram and

Yoga, he tries to keep on stressing these even at the cost of boring

people.

 

Be that as it may, what one has generally observed is that many often fail

to assign supreme importance to Sandhyavandanam. This is as most may be

aware, a nitya karyam i.e. until one breathes the last.

 

The other reason is everything in our tradition having come down from the

Vedas, the primary duty enjoined by the Vedas themselves is "Sandhi". In

fact this upasana is believed to be the only upasana which is the of

ancient antiquity and is sometimes referred as "adi upasana"

 

The Gayathri itself is supposed to be the Supreme MOTHER of the Vedas

themselves.

 

Given the above, it is essential, nay absolutely mandatory to perform the

Sandhyavandanam in full slowly, steadily, with full focus and

concentration. Take time. In case for some reason - though the writer

hopes this may not be true - you are not in a position to recite or

perform the rituals please take the help of a audio cassette / CD and try

to 'hear out' and attempt. Remember the attempt and interest is more

significant than the accurate performance/recital or ritual

practices/actions.

 

Though, the cassette/Audio CD is strictly not advised, best would be a well

versed acharya, priest or one of the members of the various Shri Vaishnava

groups in and around your country.

 

This writer can say stress with authority that Trikala - Sandhya is

primary and without Sandhya everything else becomes insignificant. With

and after Sandhya, everything else becomes irrelevant. It has all the

components of Bhakti, Nama chanting, the entire gamut of all prayers,

adoration and thanks to the Lords, stars, elements, universal entities

etc. and it extends to you, your past, present and future.

 

Especially, in view of your father's ceremony, purifying yourself and

making your mind, body, intellect, emotions, nervous systems, breath

everything fit to perform your father's ceremony can be achieved ONLY by

Sandhyavandanam primarily.

 

The writer is not sure but if possible, repeat if possible try not to store

water for the Sandhyavandanam. It has to be a naturally running stream or a

river bank maybe. This is asking for too much, but if feasible only. If

not, if you need to store water overnight, please purify yourself. Take a

clean bath, keep on chanting Rama nama or Om Nam Narayana and store the

water in a clean utensil. Immediately, after bath the storing should be

done. Cover the utensil with a good clean, pre-washed, dried by you earlier

again after an earlier bath, in a secluded safe, clean place. Try not to

use washing machines etc. Wring the cloth with your own palms. Do not boil

or filter the water. Hopefully, it should be clean. Buying water from a

company /department store may be avoided. The next morning at the time of

Sandhyavandanam, take the water in a "shombu" not by dipping directly into

the utensil, but if possible thru a tap facility. Try to not shed a single

drop of water. Be extremely diligent, watchful and mentally keep on

chanting Om Namo Narayana.

 

All these small small fine tuning are required because water is the most

critical part of the Sandhyavandanam. It is literally a weapon to kill

asuras, impediments, problems, stumbling blocks and therefore, water should

not be treated casually.

 

On 15th Feb the actual day, if not on other days, at least on this day find

out in advance the sunrise timing. Get a simple magnatic compass and using

an alarm clock try to arise early say by 3:30 am ( the writer is not sure

whether the hour is behind or ahead in your part of the country, and is

mentioning about India time) and after your abulations, bath etc. do the

Sandhyavandanam facing the proper directions as indicated by your compass.

 

If you are married, rope in your wife and children or all possible close

family members and the day before and on that day itself let them set aside

their normal habits, routines and stick to chanting the Vishnu Sahasranama,

Rama nama or Om Namo Narayana or read some holy books. Especially, when you

are doing the pre-dawn Sandhyavandanam. The air /atmosphere around has to

be charged consciously with holiness. It will aid and strengthen your

Sandhya ritual. Though there is no need for a specific number of Gayathri,

a base minimum of 108 Gayathri may be safely considered. Remember this is

done on an empty stomach without any morning tea, coffee etc.

 

When people assist you in prayers etc. as indicated above, no playing of

pre-recorded prayers either on TV or computer or on Audio players/radio.

It has to be orally, mentally done by physical effort.

 

Two days before itself from 2nd Feb start sleeping on a reed mat and avoid

pillows, and comforts. Eat the barest minimum to sustain and keep on

chanting Om Namo Narayana or Rama nama.

 

On the evening of Feb 4, just before retiring for the night, consciously

seek blessings of your Mother, father, Guru. No need to include and

involve the Gods at this juncture. Seek strength to do the Sandhyavandanm

and the ceremony itself in a fitting manner.

 

If personal training is an issue, this can be simply overcome by (a)

procuring a good dependable audio material on Sandhyavandanam and (b)

listening, practicing. Even if most of the things outlined above are

impossible, at least your sincere attitude to learn and practice coupled

with Rama Nama will serve as an equally acceptable action.

 

You have not mentioned whether there is priest etc. available in your

country/area?

 

Checkout with your acharaya or maybe some of members of this forum may

throw more light, but if you can do this in a river bank or near a pond or

natural water formation, nothing like it.

 

All other - learned members, one hopes will pardon and not take offense -

rituals, procedures, chantings are subordinate to Sandhyavandanam.

 

Om Tat Sat

 

 

 

 

Vijay Raghavan

<vkv55. Sri Ranga

<>

uk> cc:

Pooja

rules and procedures

01/23/03 12:38

PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dear members,

 

I intend to perform 30 minutes pooja everyday in the morning and say a full

fledged longer one on weekends falling on Fridays. I request the forum to

guide me in this .I have Vighraham of Lakshmi Narasimhan perumal our Family

Deity ( which my young son got as a spl gift mystically) and Vinayaka and

Devi. I want to know from Learned members the procedures, slokams until

aarthi and utensils I need to keep etc. I know Vishnu saharsanamam, some

stothrams of Vedanta Desikan Swamigal and also have Tiruppavai text.

 

Can you please guide me , as I want to start well before my father's

ceremony falling on 15/02/03. Iam in a middle east country where there is

some difficulty in getting personal training, which I will still explore

keeping your inputs as well , as a reference.

 

(Just for information I am a vadakalai iyenger)

 

V K Vijayaraghavan

 

 

 

 

 

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