Daily performance of the Brahmanas
Rishis said, “O Great sage, you kindly enlighten us on the daily performance of the Brahmanas and their related deeds, with the following of which, he is relieved of all the worldly bondages.”
Vyasa said, the deeds to be performed by the Brahmanas daily are being related by me in a sequence. All of you should listen to me with a concentrated mind.
Every Brahmanas should get up in the early morning before the sun rise and should think upon his own duties and monetary affairs wherefore he has to exert his body. Then, he should meditate devoting his mind towards Ishvara.
After the sun rise, a learned person should free himself from the daily routine and then take a bath in the auspicious river nearby. By so taking bath in the early morning even the sinful person is relieved of all the sins. Therefore making all the efforts, one should take his bath in the early morning.
Taking of bath in the early morning is praised by the men of learnings because by so doing one gets the visible as well as the invisible merits. The ascetichood of the sages becomes permanent by taking bath in the early morning.
The saliva constantly flows from the mouth of the sleeping person, therefore without taking morning bath, one should not engage himself in any other activity.
By taking bath in the early morning, the poverty, blemish of the water, the effect of a bad dream, and evil thinking is removed. Besides all the sins too are washed out. There is no doubt about it.
Therefore a person should do no work without taking bath. Bath is particularly necessary before the performing of the Japa as well as the Нота. Therefore, one should take a bath in the early morning.
For an ailing person, when he is unable to take his bath, one can take bath without pouring water over the head, otherwise, one could sponge the body with the wet cloth, to purify the body. This is called Kapila bath.
One should take a bath, some how even when he is dependent. The learned people have prescribed the method of purifying the body when he is physically unfit to do so.
There are six types of baths to be taken in brief which include Brahma, Agneya (fire), Vayavya (wind), Divya, Varuna (with water) and Yaugika.
The Brahma bath is performed by sprinkling of the water drops with the ten-grass and repeating the mantras. The Agneya bath is performed with the application of the ashes over the body from foot to head.
The excellent bath by means of the dust particles raised by the kine is called the Vayavya ablution. The bath which is performed in the sunshine with the rain water, is called the Divya bath.
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The bath taken in a pond, river or reservoir is called the Varuna bath. Similarly, to establish one’s mind in his soul by the Yogins is called the Yaugika bath. In the Yoga, the self thinking of the universe is done. This is also known as the Atma-tirtha, which is adopted by the spoke- persons on Brahman. This bath purifies the minds of the people daily. Therefore it should be performed regularly.
But when a learned man is competent enough, he should perform the Varuna bath. Carefully washing the stick-brush, it should be chewed carefully. Thereafter he should perform the Acamana rite and should take his bath in the early morning. The toothbrush twig should be as thick as the middle finger and should be twelve fingers in length; covered with the skin of the tree. The teeth should be cleaned with its tip.
The tooth stick should be from a tree of milky exudation. The twigs of the Malati tree are auspicious. Apamarga, Bilva and Karavlra are particularly good.
Leaving aside all other condemned trees the teeth should be washed with a tooth stick daily in the morning. A person who brushes his teeth after the end of the day, he actually attracts sins. This has been ordained by the learned people.
The tooth stick should not be plucked from somewhere and should not be held with the fore parts of the fingers. After its use, it should be washed, broken and then thrown at a clean place.
Thereafter taking a bath, performing the acamana, a person well-versed in the mantras should perform oblation in favour of the gods and the pitrs. Thereafter, performing acamana again, he should keep quiet.
Then he, sprinkling water over his head with the tea-grass, should recite the auspicious mantras of Lord Vanma beginning with apo hi stha and the Gayatrl-mantra prefixed with Ornkara and Vyahrtis. With the mind fixed on the sun he should offer a handful of water to the sun.
One should then be seated over the kusa- asana already spread on ground with a concentrated mind and then perform three Pranayamas and meditate on the Sandhya. This has been ordained by the Smrtis.
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Since Sandhya is the creator of the universe, therefore, she is free from Maya and is beyond time. She is the complete Isvarl Shakti, who emerged out of the three tattvas viz. Brahma, Visnu and Mahes'a.
A learned Brahmana should recite the mantra of Savitri who is lodged in the solar orbit. He should always perform the worship of Sandhya, facing the east.
A person who does not perform Sandhya, he remains impure and all his activities are of no consequence. Whatever deeds besides Sandhya are performed by him, he receives no reward for them.
Thus realising, instead of devoting one’s mind elsewhere, a Brahmana well-versed in the Vedas, peacefully performing Sandhya achieves the supreme position.
The best of a Brahmana, who ignoring Sandhya, engages himself in some other religious activities, he has to face hell and remains there for ten thousand years.
Therefore, all should perform Sandhya, making all the efforts. By so doing lord Shiva, the great Yogesvara also gets adored,
A learned person, facing east should firstly recite the Savitri-mantra, a thousand times (considered the maximum and best), or a hundred times (considered average), or ten times (considered as the minimum).
Thereafter, becoming concentrated, the rising sun should be adored with the reciting of the hymns from the Rgveda, Yajurveda and Samaveda, appropriately.
Thus adoring lord Sun-the god of gods, who is the great Yogin, placing the head over the ground, a person should pray to him reciting the mantras.
“O Lord Sun, you are the form of sky-meteor, peaceful, the source of the three causes, I submit before you. You are the form of universe, salutation to you.
You are the form of light, the form of Brahman, salutation to you. You are the supreme Brahman, the water, the fire flame, the essence, and the nectar like. You are Bhiih, Bhavah, Svah, the Vyahrtis, Omkara, Sarva and the eternal Rudra.
You are the Parama-Purusa, dwelling in the body of the living beings. You are the form of Shiva having the matted locks of hair over the head, salutation to you. You have the universal form, that had originated in many ways. I bow in reverence to Siirya, the form of Rudra. I take refuge in you.
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You are Pracetas, the form of Varuna, saluation to you. You are bountiful, salutation to you. I take refuge with you. You are Hiranyabahu (of golden arms) and Hiranyapati (the lord of god), salutations to you again and again.
You are the consort of Uma, lord of Ambika, blue-throated one, holder of the Pinaka bow, salutation to you.
You are Vilohita (very ruddy), Bharga (brilliant), and have a thousand eyes, salutation to you. You remove the darkness always, and are the form of Aditya. Salutation to you.
You carry a vajra (thunderbolt) in your hand. Salutation to you. You are VirOpaksa, Paramesvara, the great, I take refuge in you. You are secretly lodged in the hearts of all the living beings, you are resplendent, form of Brahman, you are the form of nectar, salutation to you.
You have the universal form, you are the lord of animals, and the form of Ardhanarlsvara (half male and half female). You are the form of Rudra, Paramesthin, illustrious, salutation to you.
Being terrific, you are the destroyer of all. I take refuge in you for ever. One should perform the .Тара of this excellent Snrya-Hrdaya hymn.
Mentally reciting the Swya-Hrdaya-stotra, one should offer his salutation to the sun-god in the morning as well as at the noon. The Siirva- Hrdaya-stotra had been revealed by Brahma and it should be surely passed on to the sons, disciples, and to a virtuous twice-born.
This stotra removes all the sins, is essence of all the Vedas, beneficial for the best of the Brahmanas, and is resorted to by lhe auspicious Rishis.
Thereafter, a Brahmana after reluming to his abode, performing the Acamana appropriately, kindle the fire duly and then perform the Нота in the fire.
The Rtvik’s son, the wife, disciple, or brother can perfonn the Нота rite after receiving special permissions. It can particularly be performed by the Adhvaryu in accordance with the injunction.
Wearing Pavitrl (ring of /rush-grass) in hand, becoming neat and clean, clad in white garments, controlling the sense organs, one can perform the Нота with a devoted mind. The deed which is performed without a yajnopavi'(a or the Ansa-grass, the reward of the same goes to the demons and the performer does not get the reward for it either in this world or the next one.
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Every Brahmana should offer his salutation to the gods, offering eatables to them, besides the flowers. He should welcome the people senior to him in age.
Similarly, the preceptor should also be well saved and should engage himself for his welfare. О Brahmanas, he should then practice the Vedas as per his capacity.
The best of the Brahmanas should perform the .Тара looking at the concerned book. He should make the disciples to study them as well. He should make the disciples to remember them by heart besides discussing them in detail.
Besides these, he should also study the Vedic Nigamas, the Vedangas (post-vedic literature), and for the achievement of Yogaksema (attaining what has not been attained), take refuge in Is'vara.
A Brahmana should collect various materials for the welfare of his family. Then at noon, he should collect clay for the purpose of a bath.
One should collect the flowers, unbroken rice, kus'a grass, sesamum, and the auspicious cowdung. One should always take his bath, in the rivers, reservoirs, tanks, lakes, and natural pits or the flowing springs.
One should never take bath in the water reservoirs of others. In case the common reservoirs are not available, then taking out five lumps of mud from the others reservoir, only then the bath should be taken.
First of all, one lump of clay should be applied over the head, then at the portion above the umbilical region, two such lumps should be applied. Similarly, the portion below the navel should be cleaned with three lumps of clay, while the feet should be washed with six lumps of clay.
It should be the wet clay and its quantity should be that of the size of a myrobolan. .Then the cowdung of the same quantity should also be applied over the body.
The cowdung placed over the bank of the reservoir should be applied over the body reciting the relevant mantras. Thereafter, washing the hands, one should sip the water and with the concentration of mind one should take complete bath.
Then the concerned god Varuna should be invoked, sanctifying the water with the reciting of the mantras, purifying the mind one should adore the invisible and indestructible lord Visnu.
The waters have emerged from Narayana and is the abode of the lord. Therefore, at the time of bath, a learned person should always recite the name of Narayana.
Uttering the word Om, looking at the sun, one should dip himself in the river water thrice. Thereafter one who is conversent in mantras, should recite the following mantra and should perform the Acamana and then repeat the same.
О Lord having the universe as your face, you live in the cave like heart of all the living beings. You are the Yajna, Vasatkara, waters, brilliance, essence and the nectarine-juice.
Then reciting thrice the drupada-mantra, he should recite Omkara along with Vyahrtis, or alternatively one should recite Gayatri-mantra with Pranava. Besides these, a wise person should also recite the Aghamarsana-mantra.
Thereafter, reciting the mantra Apo hi stha. mayo bhuvah, and Idam apah pravahato, with Vyahrtis, one should perform the act of sprinkling.
In this way reciting the mantras beginning with "Apo hi stha’ and others, sanctifying the water, dipping himself in the water, the Aghamarsana-mantra should be uttered thrice.
Similarly, the recitation of Drupada and Savitrl should also be made. Otherwise Omkara should be recited repeatedly or alternatively, one should always recite the name of Visnu.
Remaining in the water, the one who recites the Yajurvedic hymn, mantra of Drupada etc., he is relieved of all the sins.
For the purification of the body, filling water in the palm, a mantra should be recited and the water should be sprinkle over the head. This action relieves one of all the sins.
As the As'vamedha-yajna is the best of all the yajnas, and removes all the sins, similarly, the Aghamarsana siikta removes all the sins.
Then the water mixed with flowers and the unbroken rice should be sprinkled above towards the sun, who is beyond darkness, facing it.
With the Vedic Mantras beginning with Udu tyam, Citram, Taccaksuh, and ending with Haritsah Sucisat, the sun-god should be adored. Thereafter, Savitri-mantra should be recited. In fact, the recitation of Savitrl mantra is called Japa-yajha.
Besides this, other Mantras of Sfirya or the related stotras such as Vidyas, Satarudrlya, Atharvasiras can also be recited according to the liking of the devotee and according to his means.
Getting seated on the Darbha grass with their tips towards the eastern direction, facing himself east, purifying the mouth, looking at the sun with the concentrated mind, one should keep repeat the Japya.
While performing the Japam, the rosary of crystal beads, of Indraksa, Rudraksa or the seeds of Putrajlva (Rox burghii), should be used. Of course, the later ones are better than the earlier ones.
During the performing of the Japam, an intelligent person should not speak out anything. One should not look at the external things. One should not shake the head or the neck. One should not show even the teeth.
The Japam should be performed at a secluded and an auspicious place, otherwise the Guhyakas, the demons and the Siddhas forcibly usurp the reward of the same.
In case, the performer of the Japam casts a glance over a Candala, an unclean person, or a fallen person, he should at once perform Acamana and restart .Тара a fresh. In case a performer is forced to talk to such person, he should take a bath again and then start the .Тара a fresh.
One should carryout his .Тара daily according to his means, performing the acamana and by looking at an unclean person, he should recite the Siirya-mantra or Pavamanl mantra.
In case one has to perform the japam clad in wet clothes, then he should do so remaining in water. Otherwise, he should do so, clad in dry costumes seated over an auspicious place on kusasana, with the concentration of his mind.
Thereafter circumambulating the sun, offering his salutaion to the earth, sipping the water, he should carryout his self-study of Vedas with devotion as per the scriptures.
Thereafter, one should offer oblation to the Devas, Rishis and Pitrs, uttering “tarayam vah” starting with Orhkara.
The Tarpana rite for Devas and the Brahminical sages should be performed with water and raw rice grains, while for the Pitrs should be performed with gingelly seeds and water, in accordance with the Grhyasutra.
The wise person should perform oblation to the Gods and the Rishis with his right hand supported by the left hand below, while of the Pitrs, with handfuls of water; Similarly, while offering oblations to the gods, a person should do so properly wearing the yajnopavlta. While performing oblation for the Rishis, the yajnopavlta should be worn like a garland around the neck, and in the oblation of the Pitrs, it should be placed over the right shoulder and under the left arm. After squeezing out the water from the cloth with which he takes bath, he should perform Acamana. He should adore gods with their Mantras by means of flowers, leaves and water.
О Best of the humans, one should adore with devotion all the gods like Brahma, Shiva, Surya, Visnu-the killer of demon Madhu and others according to his desire.
Or otherwise one should offer prayer with the hymns of Purusa sukta, offering water and flowers. By so doing all the gods get worshipped appropriately.
Then concentrating one’s mind, one should utter Omkara. Then devoting his mind towards all the gods, one should offer salutation to each one of them separately.
There is no Vedic rite more meritorious than the worship of lord Visnu. Therefore one should adore Visnu, who is beyond beginning, middle or the end.
At that point of time, reciting Tad Visnoh mantra or with Pnrusa-sukta, one should propitiate Hari, because there is no hymn better than these two in all the four Vedas. Therefore, with utmost devotion one should devote his mind in Visnu and should peacefully recite the Tad Visnoh mantra, or otherwise one should adore lord Shiva, who is eternal, Mahadeva, Is'anadeva, and Sankara, sanctified by means of good feelings and thoughts.
Lord Shiva should be adored with a concentrated mind by means of reciting Rudra- Gayatrl, Pranava, Satarudriya, Is'ana and the Trayambaka or Rudra mantras.
The flowers, leaves of wood apple tree, or the water mixed with sandal paste, should be offered to lord Mahadeva, reciting the Mantra Om Namah Shivaya.
Thereafter, salutation should be offered to lord Shiva also known as Mrtyunjaya Mahadeva, reciting the mantra Yo Brahmanam, one should dedicate himself to the lord.
A wise Brahmana should perform circumambulation for five years, and should concentrate his mind over lord Is'ans lodged in the sky.
With the stud from the Rgveda known as Hamsah sucisat, one should look at the sun. Then reaching home, he should perform the five great Yajnas with a devoted mind.
The five mahciyajnas include, Deva-yajna, Pitr-yajna, Bhiita-yajna, Мйпщуа-yajna and Brahma-yajna.
In case the Brahma-yajna could not be performed after the tarpana rite, then after performing the Manusya-yajna, one should carry out of the Vedic studies.
Concentrating one’s mind he should be seated over the heap of kas'a grass, and holding kusa grass in his hand, Bhiita-yajna should be performed.
The Deva-yajna is performed in the sacrificial fire at the place of yajna, or in the water or on the ground performing Vaisvadeva homa.
In case the rice to be offered is cooked in the lokagni or secular fire, in that case, it should be offered to that fire. This is the ancient tradition.
The remanant of the food of Vaisvadeva homa should be used in the performing of BhUtabali-karma. The Bhuta-yajna bestows fortunes on all the embodied beings.
О Best of the Brahmanas, the fallen people, the dogs, and the birds should be served the said cooked food, placing it over the ground, outside the house.
In the evening, the Bali (offering to all beings) should be offered with the cooked food by his wife without uttering any Mantras. This Bhuta-yajna should be performed daily in the morning as well as in the evening, in a proper manner.
For the sake of the Pitrs, a Brahmana should be fed daily. This type of performance is called as Nitya-sraddha. This is the progressive Pitri-yajha.
Those who are well-versed in the interpretation of the tattvas of the Vedas, should be given a small quantity of food according to their capacities.
Accordingly, a guest with a peaceful temperament, who arives in the house should be served by action, thought and behaviour, offering salutation to him. He should be honoured according to the means of the householder.
A Brahmana should offer the alms of any of the three types viz. Hantakdra, Agra or Bhiksa as per one’s means holding with left hand the right hand. The guest should always be treated as the form of god.
The food when given equivalent to a mouthful is called bhiksa. Four times of a that is called Agra, while four times of Agra is called Puskala or Hantakdra. One should wait for a guest only upto the time of the milking of a cow. The guest also should stay only upto that period.
The guest who arrives should be served according to one’s own capacity. A Bhiksu or a Brahmacarin should be given the bhiksa (alms) appropriately and the beggars should be given the food generously, shedding away the miserliness.
In case no beggar arrives at the house, then the food should be given to the cow. The householder, thereafter should take food keeping silence, with other relatives, without denouncing anyone and the food.
О Best of the Brahmanas, in case a Brahmana takes food without performing the five Mahayajnas, such an evil minded person will reborn as an animal.
Daily studies of the Vedas, the performance of Mahayajnas, and the worship of gods quickly dispel all sins.
The one, who, out of delusion, or ignorance, consumes food without adoring the gods, he attains the hell called Sukara (Boar). There is no doubt about it.
Therefore, a Brahmana, who performing all the rites, takes food with his relatives seated collectively, achieves the highest position.
Chapter 19
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