snapping of fingers and clapping

[Guest guest]

Home Base: Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, Navadwip Dhama, Nadia, WB, INDIA

Observing Padmini (Kamalaa) Ekadasee Brata in Mayapur Dhama for purification

 

My Dear Godbrother Rohita dasa,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thankyou for your letter cited below with my comments. I have noted the

contents carefully.

 

> Dear Jayapataka Maharaja

> Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

>

> I have a question that is related to the question on whistling. Many of

> the Bengalis and Bangladeshis when chanting gayatri upon completion clap

> their hands. Similarly when performing an offering you can hear them snap

> their fingers and follow it with a single clap. I have been lead to

> believe that these activities where also inviting to ghosts, if so then

> why do these devotees to this activity? Are these tantric practices?

 

There is a mudra called "dik-bandhana" or protecting/closing the different

directions from inauspicious influences. Snapping the fingers keeps away

ghosts so it is customary to snap the fingers when yawning so they don't

enter into the body at that weak moment.

 

It is the opposite effect from Whistling.##I hope that this finds you in

good health.

 

Your ever well wisher,

 

Jayapataka Swami

> Similarly they will rap there gayatri thread around their thumb while

> performing acamana, where does this practice come from and what is its

> purpose? I have always seen it as muchi.

> Ys,

> Rohita dasa

 

Initially in ISKCON doing acamana in this fashion was tought. Later the

option of doing the acaman without it was proposed and has become more or

less the standard.

 

Your servant,

 

Jayapataka Swami