26 - Procedure of Sacred Ablution 

Nandin said: 

1. Thereafter he should invoke the glorious and great goddess Gāyatrī the mother of the Vedas, with the mantra: "āyātu varadā devī".148 

148. ayatu varadā devi TA. 10.26.1.

2-3. He shall offer padya, āchamaniya, and arghya. He shall then perform three prāņayāmas. Thereafter, either sitting or standing he shall repeat the Gāyatri along with Pranava Om adopting one of the three modes, viz., repeating it a thousand or five hundred or hundred and eight times. 

4-6. He shall offer the arghya again and worship the mother Goddess. He shall bow to her and then ritualistically dismiss her by repeating the mantra "uttame shikhare devī,"149 etc. Looking towards the rast and saluting the goddess Gayatrī, mother of the Vedas, he shall with the palms joined in severence, pray to the Sun God repeating the Mantras “Udutyam Jätavedasam", "Chitram" and others. He shall then salute the Sun and Brahma in accordance with the injunctions. 

149. uttame shikhare devi TA. 10.3.1. 

7-10. He shall repeat the hymns to Sürya, from Ruk, Yajus and Säman. He shall thereafter circumambulate the Sun150 thrice, He shall then bow to Ātman, Antarātman and Paramātman the Sun, Brahma and fire.151 Thereafter he shall invoke the sage, the Pitrus and Devas with their respective names by saying "I am invoking all". Then he shall duly perform the tarpaņa rite facing either east or north after meditating on their actual principal forms and saluting them in due order. 

150. Vibhāvasu - the Sun. ST. quotes Amara: "vibhāvasur grahapatiḥ". 

151. Vibhāvasu - the fire. Ibid: "chitrabhānu vibhāvasuh". 

11. The tarpaņa to Devas shall be performed with the water inlaid with flowers, the rites to the sages with the water mixed with Kusha grass and the rites to the Pitrus with water mixed with gingelly seeds. Scents should be mixed in the water in all cases. 

12. O leading brahmins, the sacred thrcad is worn in the usual manner (i.e. over the left shoulder) when the rites to Devas are performed; it is worn like a garland when the tarpaņa to the sages is performed; it is worn from right shoulder leftward when the tarpana to Pitrus is performed. 

13-15. For procuring all achievements the wise devotee who is well versed in the Vedas shall perform tarpaņa to Devas with waters flowing down the tips of all fingers. He shall perform tarpaņa to the sages with waters flowing down the tip of the little finger. He shall perform tarpaņa to the pitrus with waters flowing down the thumb of the right hand. 

Similarly, O leading sages, he shall perform the five sacrifices, viz., Brahma, Deva, Manushya, Bhúta and Pitru. He shall be devotedly engaged in these rites and be pure in soul. 

16-19. O brahmins, the study of the Vedic texts of one's own branch is Brahmayajña;152 the offering of cooked rice into the sacred fire is Devayajña; the offering of oblations to Bhūtas (living beings) as prescribed in the ritual is Bhútayajna; it bestows prosperity on all living beings. The devotee shall bow to brahmins well-versed in the Vedic rituals as well as feed them and their wives. This is Manuşhya Yajña. What is offered for the sake of Pitrus (the departed souls) is Pitruyajña. Thus he shall perform these five Yajñas153 for achieving Siddhis.  

152. brahma-yajña is defined as sva-shäkhădhyayanam--the study of particular recensions to which the scholar belongs. ST. quotes from an unknown source: "yat svādhyāyam adhiyita ekāmapi rucham yajuḥ sama vā tad brahma-yajñah". 

153. The five daily sacrifices to be performed by a house holder constitute brahma-yajña, pitru-yajna, deva-yajna, bhuta-yajna and nar yajna. These are defined as:

20. Listen O Brahmins! Brahmayajňa is the greatest of these Yajñas. A man engaged in Brahmayajña is honoured in the world of Brahmā. 

21-24. By Brahmayajña all the Devas including Indra, Lords Brahmā, Vişhnu and Shiva, all the Vedas and Pitrus are pleased. No doubt need be entertained in this respect. The brahmin who is adept in Brahmayajña when he goes out of his village out of sight of hundreds of huts, shall turn towards the east, north or north-east and then perform the sacred rite of Āchamana for the sake of Brahmayajna. For propitiating the Ruks, O brahmins, he shall fill the cup of his palm and drink water thrice. 

25. For propitiating the Yajus he shall wash his hands. and wipe off his face twice with water. For the propitiation of Sämaveda he shall touch the head. 

26. The brahmin shall wash the eyes, nostrils and other limbs for the propitiation of the Atharvan and Angiras texts. 

For the propitiation of eighteen Puranas beginning with Brāhma, for the propitiation of eighteen Upapurānas beginning with Saura, and for the propitiation of holy Itihasas beginning with Shaiva he shall touch his ears and the cardiac region. O sages, most excellent among the knower of the Kalpa, for the propitiation of the Kalpa texts, he shall perform the Achamana rite. After scattering bundles of Darbha grass, the devotee shall sit down and keep this right palm over the left palm. There must be a golden ring or the Kusha loop round his finger. With great concentration and following his own school he shall perform the Brahmayajña duly. Though an excellent brahmin or sage but if he takes food without performing the five great Yajñas, he will be born in the womb of sows. Hence a person should assiduously perform the same seeking for auspiciousness. 

33. After Brahmayajña he shall perform Ablution for the self, collect the holy water duly and enter the camp with perfect self-control. 

34. Outside the house he shall wash his hands and feet with water. Thereafter, for purity's sake he shall perform the sacred bath with ashes duly. 

35-36. The ashes should be perfectly cleaned by means of Pranava. It must be taken from what remains after performing Agnihotra. When the Sun has risen in the morning the Agnihotra should be performed with the Mantra "Jyotih sūryah."157. In the evening the same should be performed with the Mantra "Jyotir Agnih".158 If the Sun has not risen fully, the performance of Agnihotra is rendered ineffective. The ashes of the sacrifice performed after the Sun has risen is alone sacred and splendid. 

157. jyotih süryah TA. 4.10.5.

158. Jyotir agnih TA. 4.10.5.

37-41. There is nothing holy like truth and nothing sinful like untruth. Repeating the Mantra of Iśhāna he shall smear ashes on the head; repeating the Mantra of Tatpuruşha, he shall smear ashes on his face; repeating the Mantra of Aghora he shall do so over his chest; O men of holy rites! He shall apply ashes over the secret parts by repeating the Mantra of Vāma deva and similarly on the feet by repeating the Mantra of Sadya. By repeating the Praņava he shall smear ashes all over the body. Thereafter he shall wash hands and feet. After wasing them off he shall take ashes with his mind set on the lord of Devas and perform Ablution repeating the Mantras viz., "Apo hi şhthā159 and other sacred formulas taken from Ruk, Yajus and Säman texts. Thus for your welfare O brahmins, the mode of procedure for holy bath has been described to you succinetly. He who performs thus even for once shall attain the highest abode of God. 

159. Apo hi şhthā TS. 4.1.5.1.