Om! Gam! Ganapathaye! Namaha!

Om! Sri Raghavendraya Namaha!

Om! Namo! Bhagavathe! Vasudevaya!
Om! Ham! Hanumathe Sri Rama Doothaya Namaha!

AACHAMANA VIDHI – ITS SIGINIFICANCE

In our Hindu sampradaya, commencing any Nitya Nymittika Karma with a ritual
called Aachamanam followed by a Sankalpa has gained lot of significance and sanctity.
An Aachamanam is the simplest of Vaidika karmas, yet none the less in importance
than an Aswamedha Yagyam. Its importance can be well realised when we note that it
forms the prelude to all the rituals. No Vaidika karma can be begun without an
Aachamanam.

What is Aachamanam?
The process of reciting the names of supreme God (Maha Vishnu) while performing
jalapanam (sipping drops of water) as per the Vedic scripts is called Aachamanam
(aachamana). Itis a purification ritual wherein one sips water three times from the
Brahma-Grantha (base of the right thumb) while reciting different mantras. This is
done three times to make ourselves free from three shortcomings, Kaayik (physical),
Manasik (mental), and Vaachik (spiritual).

We would have observed that the priest in a temple offers theertha (sacred water) three
times. Number three denotes the trinal lords (Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara) who
also represent the Rajasa, Satwa, and Tamasa Gunas. These gunas are present in human
beings. It is an act of purifying our inner body (soul) by sipping water while praying
the supreme Lord, the Primordial Person Sri Maha Vishnu, the karaka for existence.

Aachamana means literally to sip. As a ritual of purification it means to sip water three
times from the right hand while saying mantra, and then to touch various sense organs
and parts of the body while reciting mantras. This form of purification has been
practiced since time immemorial. The physical benefit of this exercise is that by sipping
water thrice the throat is cleared from Vata, Pitta and Kapha doshas and one is then
able to chant the manthra or recite divine names clearly.
How it is performed?
The simplest version of performing an aachamanam is, a spoonful of water is poured
into the cupped palm of the right hand and then,

One recites, "Kesavaya Swaaha" and sips it noiselessly, Palm tipped back slightly, from
the base of the thumb in the name of Kesava. The same act is performed for a second
time, with the reciting of "Narayanaya Swaaha" in the name of Narayana. The act is
performed a third time with the reciting of "Madhavaya Swaaha" in the name of
Madhava.
Above act is followed by reciting the other 21 names of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu by
touching various sensory organs and other parts of the body.

1. Govindaya Namaha
2. Vishnave Namaha
(Both the hands are washed)

3. Madhusudhanaya Namaha
4. Thrivikramaya Namaha
(Both the upper and lower lips are touched with the right hand fingers)

5. Vamanaya Namaha
6. Sridharaya Namaha
(Left and right cheeks are touched)

7. Hrusheekesaya Namaha (Hands are touched)

8. Padmanabhaya Namaha (Sprinkle water on the feet)

9. Damodaraya Namaha (Centre of the head is touched with middle finger)

10. Sankarshanaya Namaha (Edge of the nose is touched with the fist)

11. Vasudevaya Namaha

12. Pradhyumnaya Namaha
(Left and right nostrils are touched)

13. Aniruddhaya Namaha

14. Purushothamaya Namaha
(Right and left eyes are touched)

15. Adhokshajaya Namaha

16. Narasimhaya Namaha
(Right and left ears are touched)

17. Achyutaya Namaha (Navel portion is touched)

18. Janardhanaya Namaha (Chest is touched)

19. Upendraya Namaha (Head is touched)
20. Hariye Namaha
21. Sri Krishnaya Namaha (Right and left shoulders are touched)

Types of Aachamanam:
Aachamana may be of different types, arising from different scriptures (e.g. Vaidika,
Srauta, Smarta, Pauranic, Tantric) according to the ceremony and the line of teaching
one is following. There can be differences in the rules followed. The difference in these
achamana lies mainly in the mantras recited. Reciting of manthras during
Aachamanadiffers from place to place.
In some places they recite Achyutaya Namaha, Ananthaya Namaha, and Govindaya
Namaha in the beginning while sipping water three times and thereafter 24 Kesava
Nama are recited by touching the body parts with fingers. Generally family tradition is
followed. Whatever may be the type of aachamanam followed, its very objective is one
and the same that is purification of body and the mind. It is said that Aachamanam
should be performed twice at the beginning of Sandhyavandana Kriya and once/twice
at the end.
Basically in practice there are two types of Aachamanawhich are in vogue. They are
Srouthachamanam and Pouranikachamanam (also called as Smarthachamanam). The
one which is performed with Gayathri is called Srouthachamanam and the one which is
performed with Kesavadi Namas is called as Pouranikachamanam. But majority follow
the Pouranikachamanam system. However, it is said that while performing
Sandhyavandana Kriya it should be performed with Pouranikachamanam and while
performing Brahma Yagyam it should be performed with Srouthachamanam.
Place & Posture: The place should be clean, free from any impure items. One should sit
on an asana facing East or North, in padma or swastika asana. Knees and feet should
not be protruding. One should not be standing but always in the Kukkutasanam or a
hen-like posture, sitting down with the soles of the feet firmly planted on the ground,
the hands between the knees.
Hand configuration: The right hand should be held so that the forefinger, middle finger
and ring finger are together and slightly bent upwards, while the little finger and the
thumb are separated from the other three fingers.
Water: The water used for sipping should be pure, cool (should not be hot), without
foam or stagnation bubbles, without foul odor or bad taste, untouched by fingernails or
hair, or any impure items. Water, of quantity to cover a grain of urad dhal (Black gram),
should be poured from the left hand by spoon (Uddharani) into the right palm. One
should say the appropriate mantra and sip the water from the Brahma Tirtha of the
right hand without making any noise.

It is said that a Brahmana should always do Aachamana using Brahma Theertha. He

can also do it using Rishi theertha and Deva theertha but he should never do it using
Pithru theertha. This classification is based on where we hold the water in the right
hand. If we hold it just below the thumb it is Brahma Theertha. If it is held just below
the little finger it is Rishi Theertha and at the edge of four fingers, then it is Deva
theertha. If it is held between the thumb and the first finger, it is called Pithru Theertha.
When to perform Aachamanam?

Though an Aachamanam generally precedes all karmas, there are specific occasions
when it is called for. They are as follows:
• As a preliminary to all nitya and naimittika karmas (daily and occasional rituals)
like Sandhyavandanam, Brahmayagyam, Vedadhyayanam, Pitrutarpanam
Mantra japam etc.
• Immediately after waking up in the morning
• After urination and other forms of excretion
• After brushing one’s teeth
• Before and after a bath
• After wearing clothes
• Before and after a meal
• Speaking with or touching unsuitable persons, after telling a lie
• Before and after giving or accepting alms or donation
• After sneezing, shedding tears or blood
• Upon physical contact with women
• Before and after crossing a river
When not to perform Aachamanam?

• Aachamanam is not to be done in a standing position (exception: one may perform

aachamana while standing if one is in water which is above the knees but below the
navel)
• Aachamanam is not to be done facing the west or the south, but always facing the
east or the north.
• Aachamanam should not be done with impure or falling water, as from a tap or rain,
but usually with water from a river or tank, or from a vessel held in the left hand.
When doing this in a river or tank, the left hand should be touching the water.
• It should not be performed casually, while speaking to others, wearing a shirt or
footwear, with a covered head, with laughter etc., but with devotion, and with the
consciousness that one is uttering the holy names of the Almighty, which purify and
protect.

• Aachamanam should not be done while wearing a Pavithram. While performing an

aachamanam, the pavithram should be kept in the gap between the right ear lobe
and the head. This is perhaps meant to avoid the sharp ends of the pavithram
hurting the eyes.
When Aachamanam is forbidden? Aachamanam is not to be done immediately after
taking prasadam or sipping theertha as these are holy and pure and the symbolic act of
purifying oneself through aachamanam insults their holiness.
Exemption: There is one more type of Aachamanamin vogue. It often happens that
though we need to purify ourselves through Aachamanam, no water is available at the
time and place. In such situations, the scripts prescribes an easy method of purification,
that of touching the tip of the nose and then the right ear, uttering the Pranava mantra.
It is based on the Scriptural texts, which says 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. We would have observed our elders reciting names of God
(Krishna, Govinda etc.) whenever they sneeze or yawn. Perhaps this is with respect to
the above principle. It is to be noted that this short cut is to be adopted only when
performing the regular Aachamanam is not possible.

Significance of Aachamanam:
Water is profusely glorified in the Vedas and is used in Vedic rituals for sipping,
touching to parts of the body, sprinkling over the body, and for bathing the body.
Taking pure, cool water internally is purifying and invigorating, both physically and
mentally; and, when this is accompanied by utterance of the names of Vishnu, one
becomes filled with spiritual qualities. Aachamana is a standard form of purification,
prerequisite for meditation, puja, homa and other sacred activities.
A Brahmana becomes purified in performing Aachamana if the water penetrates to the
heart (i.e. by swallowing the water completely). A Kshatriya becomes purified in
performing aachamana if the water reaches his throat. A Vaishya becomes purified if
the water reaches his palate (inside his mouth). A Shudra or Woman becomes purified
if the water touches his or her lips.
During Aachamanam one touches various parts of the body because in different organs
of the body are located various energies and their deities. It is said that as per sage Veda
Vyasa, all the deities are propitiated by the intake of water with the Achyuta, Ananta
and Govinda Nama. Wiping the lips pleases Ganga and Yamuna, while touching the
eyes pleases Surya and Chandra. Similarly, the Aswini Devathas are propitiated by
touching of the nose, Agni and Vayu by the ears. With the Padmanabha mantra all the
thirty-three crore Deities are pleased and the Paramatma by touching the head.

When the mantra is chanted lot of heat is produced in the body due to which the throat
and the mouth can become dry. Aachamanam done three times aims at remedying this
dryness. One need not drink mouthful of water in Aachamanam. One only needs to
sip as much as is required to make the mouth and throat wet and reach the heart.

It is said that any ritual performed without aachamanam and Sankalpa do not yield any
results and is useless. All karmas done without Aachamanam are doomed to fail and
would be futile. Anachamyakritham yachha yachha sankalpa varjitham, rakshasam
thatbhaveth. It is said as per Bhagavatha that Lord Sri Krishna had observed these
rituals very strictly in his daily routine and shown to the world the significance of
Aachamanam and Sankalpa.

Significance of Aachamana with 24 Kesava Namas

Among the Vishnu Sahasra Namas these 24 names are very important. We recite 24
names of Lord Maha Vishnu during Aachamanam the first three while sipping water
and remaining 21 while touching the body parts. They are Kesava, Narayana, Madhava,
Govinda, Vishnu, Madhusudhana, Trivikrama, Vamana, Sridhara, Hrusheekesa,
Padmanabha, Damodara, Sankarushana, Vasudeva, Pradhyumna, Anirudhha,
Purushothama, Adhokshaja, Naarasimha, Achyuta, Janardhana, Upendra, Hari, and Sri
Krishna

It is said that Manu Smruthi compares these 24 names of supreme God with 24 tatvas
(elements) of creation with which the universe is formed. For example KesavaNama
represents Avyaktha tatva, NarayanaNama represents Mahatatva, MadhavaNama
represents Ahankara tatva, and Govindanama represents Manotatvam.

Remaining twenty names represents Pancha Gnanendriyas (eyes, ears, nose, tongue,
and skin), Pancha karmendriyas, (hands, legs, speech, and two excretory organs),
Pancha Pranas (prana, apana, vyana, udana, and samana) and Pancha Bhoothas (sky,
water, fire, air, and earth). It is said that the first three names Kesava, Narayana,
Madhava are tapatraya nivarakas. It is also said that these 24 names also represents 24
letters of Gayathri Manthra called Beejaksharas that have influence on the human body.

For performing any Kriya one should have Anthhakarana Suddhi (Inner purity) that is
possible only by praying the God by reciting the divine names (manthras) and the
process of Aachamanamis only meant for that purpose. By reciting 21 names a person
is getting purified bodily and by reciting three names he is getting purified internally.
Reciting these names of Supreme God is the link for devotion as it cleanses the inner
body of the human being that helps in attaining quick results. The name of God is so
powerful that it has the capacity to vanquish any sins and desires. Whether it is done
knowingly or unknowingly (without understanding its meaning and significance)
reciting the divine name will never go a waste.

The best example of this is the story of Ajaamila as given in Ajaamilopakhyanam in Sri
Mad Bhagavatham where Ajaamilachants unknowingly the name of Lord Narayana at
the time of his death and gets rid of his sins. The one that is done by knowing its
meaning and significance will not only eliminate the sins but also helps in gaining
divine knowledge that leads to ultimate salvation.

Sri Krishnaarpanamasthu

bhargavasarma