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. Otherwise a little inattention will create havoc.

santusto'har ahah kuryannitya naimittikih 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.

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.

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, don't handle cloths with legs.

After 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.

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, don’t 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.

 సత్సంగత్వే నిస్సంగత్వం నిస్సంగత్వే నిర్మోహత్వం నిర్మోహత్వే నిశ్చలతత్త్వం నిశ్చలచిత్తే జీవన్ముక్తిః
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. 

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.

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 shouldn’t 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.


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 yat sakalam parasmainarayanayeti 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.



సంకల్పం

అక్షింతలు చేతిలో తీసుకొని
మమ ఉపాత్త సమస్త దురితక్షయ ద్వారా శ్రీ పరమేశ్వర ప్రీత్యర్ధం శుభే, శోభనే ముహూర్తే - శ్రీ మహావిష్ణో రాజ్ఞయా ప్రవర్తమానస్యఆద్యబ్రహ్మణః, ద్వితియ పరార్ధే - శ్వేత వరాహకల్పే వైవస్వత మన్వంతరేకలియుగే ప్రథమపాదే – 
క్రౌంచ ద్వీపే, రమణక వర్షే, ఐంద్రిక ఖండే, మేరోః పశ్చిమ పార్స్వ దిగ్భాగే, సప్త సముద్రాంతరేకపిలారణ్యే, ఉత్తర అమెరికాయం, మిస్సిసిప్పి నదీ సమీపే, స్మోకీ పర్వత సమీపే, నార్త్ కరోలినా రాష్ట్రే, చార్లేట్ పట్టణె, నివాసిత గృహే(Own house అయితే "సొంత గృహే"అని చదవాలి)
అస్మిన్ వర్తమాన వ్యావహారిక చాంద్రమానేన శ్రీ {జయ} నామ సంవత్సరే {ఉత్తర/దక్షిణాయనే}, {వర్ష} ఋతువే
('గ్రీష్మ' - 'Summer/ 'వర్ష - 'Rainy / 'వసంత - 'Winter) 

{భాద్రపద} మాసే, {శుక్ల/కృష్ణ} పక్షే, {   } తిధౌ, {see below} వాసరే, {శుభ} నక్షత్రే, శుభ యోగే, శుభ కరుణే, ఏవం గుణవిశేషణ విశిష్టాయాం,
శుభ తిథౌ శ్రీమాన్ {వృషభ కుల} గోత్రా, అహం {అరవింద్} నామ ధేయా,ధర్మ పత్ని {శశి బాల ప్రియ} నామ ధేయా, సకుటుంభాయాః సకుటుంబస్య - ఉపాత్త దురితక్షయ ద్వారా,
శ్రీ పరమేశ్వర ప్రీత్యర్ధం, క్షేమ స్థైర్య విజయ అభయ ఆయురారోగ్య ఐశ్వర్యాభి వృద్ధ్యర్ధం,
ధర్మార్ధ కామ మోక్ష చతుర్విధ ఫల పురుషార్ధ సిద్ధ్యర్ధం, సర్వాపదాం నివారణార్ధం, సకలకార్య విఘ్న నివారణార్ధం,
సత్సంతాన సిద్ధ్యర్ధం, శ్రీ పార్వతీ సహిత పరమేశ్వర దేవతా ముద్దిశ్య, కల్పోక్త విధానేన యధాశక్తి షోడశోపచార పూజాం కరిష్యే. {ప్రాతః/మధ్యాహ్నిక/సాయం} సంధ్యామ్ ఉపాసిష్యే || 


{అని చదివి అక్షంతలు నీరు కలిపి పళ్ళెములో విడువవలెను.}
సంకల్పంలొ  చెప్పవలసిన వారాలు : 
ఆదివారం : భాను వాసరే 
సోమవారం : ఇందు వాసరే
మంగళవారం : కుజ వాసరే
బుధవారం : సౌమ్య వాసరే
గురువారం : గురు వాసరే
శుక్రవారం : భ్రుగు వాసరే
శనివారం : స్థిర వాసరే


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent words for people

refer2win said...

Interesting Insights