A Day in Life

Life in Sanathana Dharma

We are supposed to be called to belong "Sanathana Dharmam" not Hindu

Religion. Like we call our neighbor villagers by their village name, some
outsiders called us Hindu based on a river name(Indus), and it continued,
but we are SANATHANA DHARMA. Again we have to say we are
in Sanathana Dharmam, not in a named religion.
Below are minimum rituals(mechanical steps) one needs to do follow his life
in Dharma. They have to be done along with Shraddha, then it becomes love
slowly. One can begin to understand the great regard given to physical
cleanliness

and

mental

purity

by

the

Aryan

civilization

since

time

immemorial, and one can begin to admire their sensitivity to the effects of
time

and

place

on

the

body.

Everyone should very cautiously execute devotional service by rigidly

following regulative principles. Thus he will remain fixed at the lotus feet of
the

Lord.

santusto'har

Otherwise
ahah

little

inattention

kuryannitya

will

naimittikih

create

havoc.

kriyah

One should happily perform daily sacrifices (nitya kriya) and those for
certain

occasions

(naimittika

kriya).

From the time of rising in the morning to the time of taking rest at night the
body and senses are engaged in activity. The nitya kriya are those rules for
spiritually cultivating or purifying the senses, so that one may bring them
under control and engage them in the Lord's service.
Wakeup
Bath
Pooja
Eating
Day Life

Evening
Night

Wake Up
We should wake up 88 mins before Suryodayam, sunrise times change by months.
We get sense of waking up before opening eyes. Before opening eyes say Sree Hari, Sree
Hari, Sree Hari 3 times Once opened eyes and before touching feet on ground, namaskar
to Bhoo Devi, and say sorry for putting legs on her, and doing it so because of no other
choice. Your floor below feet is earth, don't worry about 2nd floor or 3rd floor.
Pray with below shloka
Karaagre

Vasate

Lakshmi

Karamadhye

Sarasvati, Karamuule

Tu

Govinda

Prabhaate Karadarshanam,
Samudravasane

Devi

Parvatastanamandale, Vishhnupatni

Namastubhyam

Paadasparsham Kshamasva Me
Vishunupati

samutpanne

shankhavarna-mahitale, Aanek-ratnasampanne

bhumidevi namo namah

Meaning:
I bow to Mother Earth, who has mountains and jungles on her body and whose clothing is
made by the ocean. The wife of Lord Vishnu, please pardon me for touching you with my
feet.
Turn to the direction of intidevudu location, and namaskar to him.
Turn facing east, Imagine Guruvu standing in front of you, do Saashtanga pranamam and
take blessings for the day.
Sit for 5 mins in same place, and do yoga pranayamam. so that you control mind and heart
for the good day ahead.
Until suryodayam, finish all bathroom activities.
Brushing should be done while sitting, facing east direction.

BATHING
One should not bathe naked. Before bath, stand in front of water and do prayer to pure
water by reminding Ganga, Godavari, Kaveri...
"Ganga Cha Yamuna Chaiva Godavari Saraswati, Narmada Sindhu Kaveri Jalesmin
Sannidhim Kuru"

Meaning: The literal meaning of this mantra is: "In this water, I invoke the presence of
divine waters from the rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and
Kaveri. These rivers are considered as goddesses and I pray to them for considering me for
their blessings.
Men do head bath daily with a cloth(small light towel) on lower part(even God takes
abhishekam(except lingam with cloths on). If doing cold bath start from head. If warm
water start from feet.
Sprinkle 3 times on head with hand, say Govinda, Govinda, Govinda(or Ganga name).
After

Bath

wipe

starting

from

head,

After

don't

handle

cloths

with

legs.

bath

say,

nalini nandini sita malini ca mahapagavisnu padarghya sambhuta ganga tri patha gaminibhagirathi bhogavati jahnavi tridasesvari

When we bath in Theertham(at Theertha Yatra), do sankalpam and say Kapardhi 3 times.
When bathing in Sea, lake, or river, do not spit, or don't misbehave with water, bath with
respect. Rameswaram is the only place where you can bath anytime(in sea), In other
oceans

there

are

different

timings

based

on

Thithi

to

take

bath.

We need

to

say sankalpam(Desa Kala names), or Maha sankalpam if doing bath in Holy waters.

Doing pooja
Pooja= 'Kruthagnatha', Thanking god for what has been given so far, and responding with
Upacharalu.

Men should wear Dhothi(foldings on

both front and back),

and Uttariyam. If dhoti is not fresh(only

in worst case scenarios), Shake off 11 times in the direction of sun.

Always

wear

Bottu(Kumkum,

not

stiker).

Do Sandhya vandanam(Brahmins) or Ishta Linga Pooja(Shivaites).

God's peetam should have 5 murthis, 1. Kula daivam(Shiva), 2. Ganesh, 3. Shri
Maatha(Gowri or Durga or Laxmi or saraswathi), 4. Surya Bhagavan, and 5. Ishta
daivam(Krishna or Venkatesha or Rama).
Kula daivam should be in the middle, must not be changed, he cannot be replaced at any
cost, he must be continued from our ancestors. If you like some one, or granted a wish or
something, see him in kula daivam, or put photo on wall, but not on peetam.

Achamanam(one needs to have a ring to finger), usually wife has to pour water for
achamanam. Take 3 times water in right hand(with Kesavaya swaha, narayanaya swaha,
madhavaya swaha), and 4th leave water on floor(Govindaya namaha). Drink water without
sound, on lower lips.
Thank God for giving with minimum 5 vupacharalu because of 5 indriyalu. Deepam(eyes),
Flowers(ears),

Agarabatti(nose), Gandham (skin), prasadam(taste). The various items

offered, all representative of the material elements in pure form and the corresponding
sense objects are auspicious and purifying. Thank on each of these offering occasions.
If doing pooja with maredu patri, dont put directly on ground before offering, clean
properly, select only 3 leave patri, hold with sting and put slowly on linga one by one.
Tell all the wrong doings did last day(truthfully), and ask for forgiveness for any.
Intentionally(practice) to control mind to stay on pooja, do pranayamam(closing nose
alternatively to control breathing, it will stabilize mind) before pooja.

Pooja has to begin before sun rise. Dress in Dhothi, men nothing on top, utthariyam on neck
hanging both sides, heart should be visible clearly to God.
Place all pooja items to be offered on right side (of us), once offered put them on left side. Sprinkle water(imagining it as
Ganga water) on all puja items, self head, and surroundings, to purify. Ring bell to invite Gods and sit in Sinhasanam. Offer
below Upacharalu in this order.

1. Deepam, oil can be either Cow Ghee or Sesame Oil, if available. Deepam should be made
with 3 vathulu. No candle lights, they may be made from cow fat.
2. Make Fresh Sandal paste, not from powder. It doesn't take few seconds to make a drop of
it. All we need is a non-smooth tile, and sandal wood from Indian stores. Take it in a small
bowl or on a leave before applying.
3. Don't cut all flowers from plant, cut only in need, leave atleast one or two. Don't offer
flowers that fell on floor, once fell they already offered to Sharvudu. Flowers should be
offered as is, don't take out petals. Take flower in hand, and start hand from heart(palm
facing above, like semi circle).
4. Use Agarabatti for God to smell, near nose, don't circle around like Karpura Haarati. It
will be very dangerous, if Fire particles or ash falls on Swami skin/cloths. Dont blow after
litting, as it will become engili(spittle).

5. Prasadam must be home made, or Jaggery or Fruits. Fruits should be clean, like ready to
eat. Don't offer in plastic covers, or with stickers. We also don't eat un-washed and uncut
fruits. Offer as we are feeding a very good nature guest eating. If offering snack size
prasadam, feed it by 3 fingers (folding thumb, ring and middle finger), if offering maha
prasadam(big size meal) offer with folding all 5 fingers.

No Yawning, or sneezing during pooja. If you do then close ear to clean thoughts, body. This
is meant for Jahnavi(Ganga from Jahnu maharshi ears) to clean body. We can also sprinkle
Vibhudi powder on head(a quick bath).
All God Deities should be in the size of max thumb finger at home. Bigger size deities power
and strength cannot be controlled by our upacharalu at Home, they belong only at Temple.
If not veerashaiva, or lingayath, you shouldn't keep Lingam at home, only exception is
Narmada Lingam. Shivaites take Deeksha, and are expected to do abhishekam at Home
daily, to keep Lingam COOL all the time.
There will be upacharalu in 5(pancha), 16(shoda shopa), 64(raja) types. We have to do 64
Raja vupacharalu(at one instance) at least once in a life time.
Arathi is also called nirajana or drshti, which means waving auspicious items before a
person in order to dispel inauspicious influences or elements, as a means of protection.
Mangal arati during very early morning(1 one half hour before sunrise), Darshan arati,
generally one hour after sun rise, Bhoga arati(noon arati), Sandhya arati(evening arati) and
sayana arati(night arati).
We are not supposed to take Arathi with hands and touch eyes. Pujari/we just took
out Dishti from God and we have to put it away, which will have all Drishti Doshalu(It is
same as like we take out Dishti on small kids)
Every pooja has to begin with Ganesh pooja and end with Hanuman pooja.
When handling Deities holding, wash, clean, wipe treat them as small babies. Don't hold
with heads or just legs.
After coming out of Pooja room, behave all day in same way as we behaved in front of God.
After Pooja, come out and do formal surya namaskaram or atleast bow to Surya bhagavan.
As Guruvu garu said, there are only 2 visible Gods, Bhoodevi and Surya Bhagavan.
If we observe/summarize all mantras and pooja, it all means doing all pari charylu(sevas) to
an important guest who came to our home. Inviting, washing legs, giving water, cleaning,
washing, feeding, applying sugandam, dhoopam, resting. At the end we do mangala harati

and say mangalam to God(not to us), and take out Disti(with karpuram). So, pooja is meant
to learn respect and see God in everyone.

It doesn't matter how long, or how many shlokas/mantras to say. Once we start feeling
love, imagine he is right in front, and show gratitude, others things follow, we try to show
more respect, more love, and more shlokas everyday, automatically.

DURING DAY

Samskaram, Sat-sangam, Company with a person who listen to, talk about and assimilate
the truth. Intentionally try to communicate with good people. We will learn/ listen and
habituate good habits automatically. Samskaram is superior to all, it can be achieved slowly
with Sajjana sahavasam and true Bhakthi(Thanking for whatever we have).
Men wear finger ring, and rudraksha all time.
Women's hair always tied especially in temples or while doing pooja at home. As there is a
chance of single hair to fall near Pooja, and puja becomes impure, and one has to take bath
again.
Do Papita, from middle of forehead to Brahma randram.
Men and Women must have Tilakam with kumkuma all the time.
Women should wear sinduram on papita(it is lakshmi place, when men talking to wife, he
will aslo get laxmi blessings, as like he is talking to laxmi indirectly looking at sinduram).
Women have to wear gold jewels with symbols of lotus.
Try not to say any bad words, or make loss to others.
Imagine when we eat food, or smoke or drink, we are dropping on God's head inside you.

EATING
It is said eating is offering food to God inside you, also called Devatharchana. Rushis also
say it as giving Havishu(food) to Yagnam(Stomach), that is why while eating we have to
wear same cloths as if we are sitting in front of yagnam.
Bhootha Bali, before eating leave few food particles for birds or insects...
Athidi Danam, name says it all
Parisechanam, Follow this link for Annapurna devi matram.
Mix rice with ghee, without touching teeth, put it in mouth 4 times. This is to offer
naivedyam to the God inside you.

Say Govinda unlimited times while eating food

Leave atleast few rice particles in rice bowl before throwing in sink.
Men shouldn't wear shirt or vest, only utthariyam on left shoulder while eating.
One shouldn't eat or drink while standing, not even water. No talking while eating.
After food is prepared, we shouldn't use knife or fork to eat it. We always call food as
prasadam, we shouldn't poke, or cut with tools. God gave us fingers, which are said
"Amrutham Kaare vellu"(infants lick fingers for same reason), also our body generates more
'Laala

jalam'

if

we

eat

with

fingers,

easy

to

swallow.

One should fill half the stomach with food one quarter with water and one quarter with air.

EVENING
One should visit Shiva Temple in the evening. We shouldn't sleep in pradosha kalam, as
there will be Gods moving in the evening to do pooja for Lord Shiva.

Temple Visit
One has to visit Shiva or Nrusimha swami Temple in evenings.
Grahalu in Temple are not Gods, they are under Gods control.
No shoes in Temple. No Belts, or wallets that are made of animals(cow) and snakes. We
cannot take animal things into the temple and pray holding them.
One shouldn't go between/cross Nandi and Lingam.
Don't sit straight opposite to any Deiti. Or showing back to God.
Always do pradakhinam from left to right, make sure right shoulder always in the side of
God.
If doing pradakshinam only to Ligam, For Gruhastu .
When doing sashtanga pranamam, make sure your feet to be not in the direction of other
deiti in the temple.
Don't take prasadam directly from Linga puja, take permission from Chandeeshwara(if
present in temple, or mention his name inside heart,

'Chitika' vesi).

Respect Pujari as equal to God, also Temple walls, do not lean or take rest on them.
You should take Theertham by sitting, if there is no convenient place atleast bend to take
Theertha.
Men should go into the temple without any cloths on top. Wear Dhothi, and tie Uttariyam to
waist.

Ladies

shouldnt

hold

pallaki.

Theertham and prasadam are not considered Engili(polluted), don't touch hands on hair,
which makes polluted.
Linga Darshanam-left hand thumb, middle finger on Nandi ears, then do linga darshanam

Sit for few minutes before stepping out of temple. Close eyes, and remind all deities,
postures, alankaras, this will help in peace of mind and helps in reminding rest of the day.

NIGHT
One should not sleep too much or too little. One should avoid sleeping during the daytime
as much as possible. One should not sleep during the sandhyas. One should not sleep in a
house by oneself. One should not sleep naked, or with oil on the head. The bed should not
be

too

high

or

too

soft.

The

bed

should

be

clean.

Remind activities for the day and Thank God for all the things happened that day.

kayena

vaca

manasendriyair

vabuddhyatmana

vanusrta

svabhavatkaromi

yad

parasmainarayanayeti

yat

sakalam

samarpayami

Whatever I have executed with body, said by words, though by the mind, contacted with the senses or
comprehended with the intelligence, I offer unto the supreme Narayana(Ruler of day Stiti kartha). One
should

resolve

to

correct

all

of

ones

mistakes.

Before sleep say Om namah shivaya 11 times. And no more talking.

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