Achamanam-2

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Srimate SrivanSatakopa Sri Vedanta Desika

Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama:

 

Achamanam-2

We have seen the various occasions warranting

Achamanam. One of these is eating or drinking.

However, there are occasions too when Achamanam is

forbidden; for instance it is not to be done after the

intake of holy water like PerumAl Tirttham (Vishnu

pAdOdakam), Sri PAda tIrttham of bhAgavatAs,

madhuparkam, sOmapAnam (after conclusion of the

SomayAga),etc.

The Achamanam in practice during Sandhyavandanam

etc., is described in the Smritis. There is one more

prescribed by the Shruti and which is done at the time

of Brahma Yagyam ( done after PrAtah:sandhyAvandanam,

in which one prasna from the Veda is recited daily in

sequential order, along with the Purusha Sukta). This

Achamanam is described in the TaittirIya AraNyaka (

2nd Prasna, 15th panchati) thus-“

tri:AchAmEt,dvi:parimrijya,sakrit u0pasprisya,shira:

chakshushee nAsikE shrOtrE hridayam Alabhya”

As in the ordinary Achamanam, here too, water is

sipped thrice, the lips wiped twice. Then one should

touch the head, eyes, two nostrils, two ears and the

heart. This constitutes the Shrouta Achamanam.

The important difference in this type of Achamanam is

that it is done without any mantra being uttered- the

intake of water is without the accompaniment of

“Achuta Ananta Govinda” nAmAs. Further, the body parts

to be touched are only eight, against twelve in the

SmArta Achamanam. Additionally, even while touching

these parts, no mantra is to be recited (i.e., without

the KesavAdi nAmAs).

Perhaps due its peculiarities, and the absence of

accompanying Bhagavan nAmAs, this Achamanam is

prescribed only during Brahma Yagya and nowhere else.

 

There is one more type of Achamanam in vogue. If often

happens that though we need to purify ourselves

through Achamanam, no water is available at the time

and place. In such situations, the Smriti prescribes

an easy method of purification- that of touching the

tip of one’s nose and then the right ear, uttering the

Pranava mantra. This is based on the Scriptural texts,

which say that Agni resides in the Brahmana’s nose tip

and holy rivers like the Ganga in his right ear. Hence

touching these two purifies a person immediately. This

is why perhaps the YagyOpaveetam is rolled onto one’s

right ear while carrying on excretory functions. We

would have observed elders performing this ShrOtra

Achamanam after letting out a yawn or sneezing.

It is to be noted that this short cut is to be adopted

only when the regular Achamanam is impossible due to

circumstances.

Other types of mini-AchamanAs are prescribed by Sri

BodhAyana, who says that when the vastram is worn

again after its removal, one should perform Achamanam,

and if that is not possible, touch wet grass, wet

earth or wet gOmayam.

The importance attached to Achamanam is evident from

the Smriti Chandrika vachanam,

“ya: kriyA kurutE mOhAt anAchamya Eva nAstika:

bhavanti hi vritA tasya kriyA:sarvA na samsaya:”

All karmAs done without Achamanam are doomed to

failure and would be futile, warns the Smriti.

There are many Smritis, which prescribe different

types of Achamanam, some mutually conflicting.

Whenever one has a doubt, one should approach elders

and BhAgavatAs and have the matter clarified, as there

is nothing that is more authoritative. Adiyen seeks

the pardon of BhagavatAs for any errors of commission

or omission that might have crept in the above piece.

 

Srimate Sri LakshmINrsimha divya paduka sevaka

SrivanSatakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya

Nama:

Dasan,sadagopan.

 

 

 

 

 

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