Essentials of Hinduism - Snana And Agamarshana Sukta

Essentials of Hinduism

Snana And Agamarshana Sukta

Snana (Bathing) consists of different kinds: Drenching our Body from waist down, from neck down and the normal one when we pour Water over our Head. However, a Snana is really recognized as a complete Snana only when we take Bath in a River facing the Sun and drenching our Head completely under the River Water. Snana of any kind should be done facing the East. One should not be naked while taking the Snana. Some Vastra (Cloth) is required.

When we do Sandhyavandana, we chant Apo Hishta... and using our finger we sprinkle Water over our Head and all over our Body; during a formal Puja or Homa, the Priest uses Darba (Dried Grass) and sprinkles Water from Kalasa (Vessel used in the Homa Rituals) on our Family Members, various rooms inside our Home etc. These Rituals are called “Brahma Snana”.

Very rarely an unusual situation comes when the Sun shines, and it also rains. This rain Water is equivalent to Water from the Deva Loka. Snana in this Water is called “Divya Snana” and some people try to do this snana.

It is important to review the Panchanga every day prior to taking our Snana. By stating the Thiti of the Day we get Wealth; by stating the Day of the Week we get Life Extension; by stating the Star of the day we get rid of Sins; by stating Yoga we get rid of Sickness; by stating Karana we get to accomplish our planned Tasks. Total there are 15 Thithis including the Purnima (Full Moon) or Amavasya (New Moon); Total there are 7 Days in One Week; total there are 27 nakshatras (Stars); total there are 27 Yogas; and, Total there are 11 Karanas.

Even for our Daily Snana, we are required to do a Sankalpa. The next Important Ritual is to chant the “Agamarshana Sukta”. This is a Prayer to the Lord of Waters or Varuna. This Sukta is relatively long (one to two pages). Instead, we may chant “Ganga...Harihi” stated in the Sanskrit Sloka above that makes our Snana inside our Home equivalent to taking Snaana in these Holy Rivers. Or, as a Last Resort, the Pranava Mantra OM can be chanted. It is recommended to do one of these chants as a Prayer to Varuna.

Agamarshana Sukta washes away our sins. By this Prayer, we purify ourselves from the food eaten at improper place or occasion, the sin committed by mind, the sin of over-eating. We pray to Varuna to get rid of our evil, impurity, sin and become liberated. Agamarshana Sukta is a sin effacing Mantra.

Chapter Re-cap:

1) Snana should not involve just pouring Water over our Head. It should be done properly following the procedures described above.

2) It is desirable to chant the Agamarshana Sukta Mantras that involve detailed Prayer to Varuna to wash away the sins.

3) For those not familiar with any chants, OM could be chanted as a last resort.

4) It is important to review the Panchanga Everyday prior to taking our Snana and state the Thiti, Day of the Week, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana of the Day.

Samidadhana, Oupasana And Agnisandhana

SAMIDADHANA:

Samidadhana is a Nitya Karma to be performed by all Brahmacharis, as an offering of the everyday prayers to Agni. This Ritual has to be done in the Morning, as well as, in the Evening. The Ritual involves making good Fire out of several quantity of Samit (Special Wood Sticks), perform Marjana (Sprinkling Water as done in the Sandhya Vandana) around the samit with appropriate Mantras which differ slightly for each Veda and performing the Homa.

OUPASANA:

Oupasana is a Nitya Karma Homa to be performed by all married (Grhastas) to offer the everyday Prayers to Agni. This Ritual has to be done in the Morning, as well as, in the Evening. The salient feature is that the fire has to be kept burning throughout the day, and with the help of one’s wife, the performer offers uncooked rice grains into the fire.

VICHINNA AGNISANDHANA:

Vichinna agnisandhana Rituals are done, because, the Person could not perform the Morning and Evening Oupasana for a long time. A formal Homa is required in this Ritual also. After the Homa is performed, Dana of some kind (talk to your Family Priest for the appropriate Dana) is done to compensate for the Oupasana that was missed for a while.

Chapter Re-cap:

1) Depending on whether you are Married or not, you are required to perform Oupasana or Samidadhana as a Nitya Karma requirement.

2) Both these Rituals are a way of paying daily Homage to Agni in the Morning and Evening.

This article is a snippet from the Book Essentials of Hinduism, Authored by G.S Nilakantan. Hinduism for All is available online at www.giri.in & across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture & Tradition.