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यो मां पश्यती सर्वत्र सर्वं च: मयि पश्यती
तस्याहम न प्रणश्यामी स: च मे न प्रणश्यति
"He who sees me everywhere, and sees everything in Me, he never gets separated from Me, nor do I get separated from him" -Bhagwat Gita Ch. VI verse 30
Dharma upadesam
http://www.celextel.org/mantrasandri...deshangal.html
Ariya Dharma Upadeshangal
By Srivathsa Ve. Somadeva Sarma
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
[I obtained the Tamil book "Ariya Dharmopadesangal" which has been published by Sri Ramamurthy Srouthigal, Sri Sadguru Dattatreya Nivasa, Vidyaranyapura, Sringeri - 577 139 from my friend Sri P. V. Anatha Narayanan. I am sure this book would be very much useful to all Brahmins to know the correct Acharas.]
Introduction By Srivathsa Ve. Somadeva Sarma: Achara (rituals) are only Dharma. The Acharas followed by holy people is Sadachara and Aacharas followed by eminent followers of the religion is Sishtachara. Though we generally tell Achara as Dharma, the rules which help practice Dharma is Sadachara. In some places Dharma is the dress and Achara are the limbs. For example, performing Sandhyavandana is a Dharma, but performing it after taking bath, after marking the forehead with sacred marks and wearing a Panchakacha is the aacharas. Even Vedas do not support a person who does not have aacharas. By following Achara we can get a long span of life and also become prosperous. Many Dharma Sasthras say that Dharma is born out of aacharas and anyone who leaves aacharas has a very short span of life. Karma or Dharma is a medicine that removes sins. Achara is the discipline that we have to follow in taking the medicine. When you do not follow the disciplines, in spite of taking medicine, the disease is not cured. Sometimes even the discipline only cures the diseases. One Purana says that a hunter who only followed Achara got a Brahmin birth. Any religious deed without following the aacharas does not give results.
1. The Sun should not be seen while rising, setting or at noon. It should not be seen during eclipse or in water
2. We should go round Brahmins, Sumangalis, Temple, Gods, Peepal Tree and Cow in a clock wise manner (Pradakshina). Dhileepa, who went round a cow in an anti-clock wise direction, did not get a child.
3. We should not blow air with our mouth on fire. We should not cross fire with our feet and we should not touch it with hand. We should not put out fire by pouring water on it. We should not dry our feet by showing our feet to the fire.
4. When we reach the sacred waters, we should not keep our feet on it first. We should take the water first and sprinkle on our head and then only wash our feet. We should not spit on water. We should not bathe without cloth in sacred waters. We should not do ablations in sacred water. We should take water in a vessel and do ablations. We should not answer nature's call inside the water. We should not put a stone in a lake or pond. Bhima who kept his feet first in sacred waters suffered.
5. Cooking food only for ourselves, making garland out of flower for our use and cooking kheer (Payasam) are all sinful activities. We should first offer everything to god and guests and take it ourselves.
6. Before going to bed, we have to wash our feet, dry it with a cloth, meditate on God and then only go to sleep. We should not sleep with our head pointing to northern direction. We should not sleep on a broken cot. We should not sleep in a dilapidated house; we should not wake up a person who is sleeping. Waking up elderly people is a great sin. While we sleep, all our sense organs are within our mind. If we wake up a person in half sleep, the organs instead of returning to proper places may go to places of other organs. (E.g. mouth may go to nose). Because of this a person can become blind or deaf.
7. Periods of a woman are a penance for Brahma Hathi. We should not go near them during those three days. While we are eating, we should not hear their voice. We should not use water and food after they have used it. On fourth day after bath, if she cooks by going near fire, she would get sick. The one who eats the food she prepares would get tainted. She would get pure only on fifth day.
8. All gods reside on a cow. Going round it in clock wise direction, comforting it, offering grass, rice bran, water and oil cake to it are blessed deeds. We would be blessed with children because of that. Kicking a cow with leg, hitting it with a stick, eating food without feeding it, informing the owner when it grazes in his field are sins. We would be born as an out caste by doing any of these. Once, a Brahmin threw away food as the dust raised by cow's feet fell on it. Due to it, he was born as an out caste called Kaisika, By serving a cow, King Dileepa got a great son called Raghu. We should try to protect the cow as much as possible. At least we should not trouble it.
9. We should not use cloths, slipper, garland, water pot, seat and bed that were used by others. It would be a sin and bring diseases.
10. The smoke from a corpse, early sun light, shadow of a lamp, shadow of a human being and shadow of an out caste should not fall on us. It would cause health problems and reduce our life span.
11. Nails and hair are like the lifeless feather on our body. A married householder should cut / shave his hair only once a month, that too after seeing an auspicious time. We should not cut our hair or shave ourselves. Our forefathers used to see proper Nakshatra and thithi. It is essential to see thithi only. If we do shaving on Chathurthi day, our mother will be affected and doing it in Chathurdasi would lead to bad effects to the sister; Sashti is not good to brother; Amavasya, Pournami, Ekadasi and Dwadasi are not good to father. Doing it in Prathma would lead to loss of Wealth, doing it on Navami would cause loss of grains, on Ashtami it would destroy our family. Wednesday is a good day for hair cutting / shaving. We should not get it done on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. After the death taint of a clan member, we should cut our hair and do Tharpana. If that day falls on a Friday, shaving can be done on Thursday itself. During taint and before the annual death ceremony (Sradham), it is essential to shave off all hairs of our body.
12. We should not nip our nails. If we do it, immediately we have to take a bath. You should not draw a line on floor using the nail. You should throw the cut nails outside our house. We should not bite the nails with our teeth. Moodhevi (Jyeshta Devi) says that such persons are the place of her personal residence.
13. We should not nip grass, durba or flower with our nails. Nails should not touch the water that we are drinking. Introducing finger to see whether water is hot is wrong. We should pour water in our hands and test it. If we sprinkle water using nails on other person, our nail would get infected. (Nakha chuthi. We should not nip the banana fruit with nail before offering it to God. We would remove the skin at the tip of our fingers. We should not remove sandal paste meant for God by using the nail. We should do it by our inner finger.
14. Without reason, we should not powder mud balls, tiles and bricks.
15. We should not wear a flower which has not been offered to God. We should not wear it in such a way that it is visible outside our hair. If those, who do not comb their hair, tie flowers with hair, the scent of the flower will not go out. Ladies should not wear flowers without scent. We should not stamp used flowers with our feet.
16. We should not travel in a cart drawn by a single bullock. If we go on a pilgrimage on such a cart, it would even destroy the blessed deeds which we have done earlier. Single bullock is the steed of Lord Shiva. The Goddess of Dharma assumes the form of a single bullock and carries Lord Shiva. Climbing on a single bullock or travelling in a cart being drawn by it is an insult to Dharma.
17. We should never enter our village or house through back door or entry point. We should always go by the front door. Dakshayani (Lord Shiva's wife) entered Daksha's house by the back door and she destroyed herself as well as the yaga.
18. At night, we should not stay below a tree. If pregnant woman sleeps there, her pregnancy would get affected. At night, birds stay on the tree and their poop may fall on us. At night ghosts and devils approach the trees. Also trees leave out carbon dioxide at night. So we may get sick. It has been told that in Kali age after 5000 years, the ghosts are but the diseases.
19. We should not gamble. Playing cards with money wager is gambling. Even Yudhishtra, who knew all Dharmas, lost everything due to gambling. Since gambling leads to lie, avarice and treachery, it is one of those great sins.
20. Crossing a river swimming with hand and leg is a sin. Our Sasthras want to protect us. Lot of dangers may happen, when we cross the river due to nature's fury. So cross the river in a boat and as soon as you reach the other shore, do Aachamana. This is to expatiate ourselves from the sin of crossing the river.
21. Please do not tell about Dharma or penance without request from others. It definitely should not be told to people who are lower in birth status than us. Food should only be given to hungry people. If we tell Dharma to people who do not want it, they will not believe in it. So initially create a desire to hear Dharma in them and after their request teach them.
22. We should not stamp by our feet the shadow of God's idol, Guru, Father, mother, elders and cow. We should not cross their shadows also. We should not stamp the shadows of sinners also nor cross it. We believe that a little of a person's power is there on his shadow also. So stamping or crossing would be disrespecting them. Ravana tried to cross Kailasa Mountain and got in to trouble.
23. We should always tell the truth. If that truth is going to hurt others, we should tell even that truth. We should not tell a lie to please another man. Once, a hunter was chasing a boar. In the path there was a sage who always told the truth. The hunter asked him which way the boar went. Instead of telling a lie or causing hurt to the boar, that sage told, "Would the people who see tell? Is the man who tells, the one who has seen it?"
24. We should not call any one as a sinner. If he had not committed a sin, the bad effect of committing the sin would reach the man who called him a sinner, suppose he has done the sin, half of its bad effect will come and reach us. Three brothers were going separately on celestial vehicles to heaven. All the three of them saw a Garuda killing a serpent. The first one said it is a sin. His vehicle fell down on earth. The second one told Garuda "please kill". His vehicle also fell down. The third one kept silent and reached heaven.
25. We should never doubt about existence of God, Heavens, Effect of Karma, Re-birth and Hell because Vedas confirm that they exist and sages much greater than us support that assumption. Once when sage Brugu told a king called Somakatha about his previous birth, he doubted about it. Immediately Soma Kantha was in great pain and he saluted the sage and got his pardon. In Katopanishad, Nachikethas asks Yama, whether they exist. Yama replied, "I am the one who takes away the soul after death. I am the one who determines about the quantum of punishment to them and I send them back to this earth to be born again. So believe, believe and believe."
26. A householder should not grow hair, beard and nails for more than one month. But after the death of his parents, he should not cut them for one year. He should not also cut them when his wife is in the family way.
27. Fearing that the beggar will come, we should not close the main door during the morning and evening.
28. Finding fault of Gods, Vedas and elders should not be done. When Brahma found fault with Shiva, Veerabhadra punished him by nipping off one of his heads. Once when devas requested Lord Vishnu to talk ill of Lord Shiva, he refused. It is also wrong to find fault with those who worship God.
29. A lamp should not be put out by blowing air by the mouth. A male should never put off a lamp.
30. We should not see our shadow in water or oil.
31. We should not gnash our teeth making sound. This is a symbol of a Rakshasa.
32. When we yawn, we should cover the mouth with our hand. Yawn is the messenger to disease, laziness and sleep. At that time, the bad air in our body escapes through our mouth. Suppose this air touches others, they would become sick.
33. If the shadow of a lamp, shadow of human beings, water from cloth, water from our hair, the dust raised by a goat, dust raised by donkey, dust raised by ladies, the air made by a winnow, the dust that comes up while sweeping falls on our body, even if we have wealth equal to Indra it would be lost. They would take away the effect of good deeds done by us.
34. Man should not take food in the row of females or children. They should not take food sitting in the same row as their wives. But they can do so, after the marriage ceremony or during travel.
35. Only if we take clean food, our mind would be clean. The cook, the people who eat and those who serve it should all be clean.
36. We should not sleep during day time. We should not make love during day time. Milk should not be drunk during day time. After noon, we should not go round that Peepal tree.
37. Jyeshta Devi (Moodhevi) lives with people who do wear cloth, who do not wear Pancha Kacham or only wear loin cloth. So except during times of need, we should wear Pancha Kacham. In North India even children are habituated to wear this. "Those who do not have Kacha, those who leave a tail and tie Kacha, yhose who tie Kacha on the waist thread and those who do not tie Kacha are like people without cloth". They should not be seen during performance of any ritual. If we happen to see them, we have to take bath along with the dress we wear. The edges of a cloth should not hang while we wear the Kacha. Through that our strength will go away. Even Muslims wear cloth without the edge hanging about.
38. Our forefathers wore silk dress with borders. Silk protects the power of our soul. There is no good effect of doing a ritual without wearing Kacha. So even for rituals like Sandhya Vandana we have to wear the Kacham,
39. We should not wash our Dhothi at night. We should not sweep the floor at night nor throw trash outside our home. At night we should not stay in the shadow of any tree. We should not dig or plough earth at night. We should not talk about secrets at night.
40. We should not enter in between cows or in between the Brahmins, between fire and a Brahmin, in between husband and wife, in between teacher and student, In between brothers or sisters or in between children. If we go in between Nandi and Shiva, Shiva and Parvathi, Lord Vishnu and Garuda or Vishnu and his consorts, the effect of all good deeds done by us earlier will be lost. If we go round them in clock wise direction, we would get good effect.
41. If we stub against a stone while walking, then we should take some mud from that place and wear it on our forehead. That is called Muruthika and it will protect us from wicked spirits.
42. Those who have father or elder brother should not wear a ring made of silver (called Tharjani) in our pointer finger. Others can wear it. That finger is supposed to be defiled because Lord Shiva nipped a head of Brahma by that finger. For worship or Tharpana, the pointer finger should not be used. Silver represents Rudra and if we wear silver on that finger and touch other fingers with that finger, the others would not be defiled.
43. During Sandhya Vandhana on Chathurthi, Ashtami and Chaturdasi days, we should chant Gayathri 54 times. On Sapthami day we have to chant 37 times and on Amavasya, Pournavasya, and Prathama 26 times.
44. Daily in the mornings, we have to chant Gayathri 108 times. Gayathri should be chanted after the hands are covered by a cloth and kept in front of us. When we get death or birth taint, we should chant Gayathri ten times.
45. Even if the sacred threads are not broken, it should be changed once in four months. When thread is cut or when the taint comes and goes away and in Sravana, we have to wear a new sacred thread. If we happen to touch a sinner, bad person, barber or ladies in periods, we have to take bath and change the sacred thread.
46. On Ashtami, Chathurthi, Amavasya (new moon), Pournavasya (full moon), Sankramana (first of a month), First of a year (Manvathi or Yugadhi), Previous day of Sradha and on the last day of the taint, we should not take food at night.
47. People who are above eight years of age or below 80 years should not take any food on Ekadasi day. Those who are sick or weak can take milk and fruits for one time. Those who are not able to live that way can take boiled rice along with water but without any spices or vegetables for one time. There is no parihara (redemption) for taking food on Ekadasi day. It is a great sin. Even if Ekadasi comes during taint, we should not take food. The penance of Ekadasi would give pleasures in life on earth and later in salvation.
48. Those answering calls of nature at night, it is necessary for them to wash their legs and hands, it is not necessary to do Aachamana.
49. Except on the days of eclipse, we should not take bath at mid of the night. If there is a need, we can show a lamp to the water and then take bath.
50. After bidding farewell to friends and relatives or after doing worship or after marriage or any sacred function, we should not take bath.
51. On Sundays or on Sapthami days, we should not eat gooseberry (nellikkai). This should not be eaten at night. But if Dwadasi comes on Sunday, by the special rule, we can take it along with Agathi leaf and Chundaikkai.
52. On no night we should eat gooseberry or ginger or curds, paddy or fried flour.
53. For turmeric, ghee, salt, parboiled rice, Betel nut and jaggery there is no taint of cooking (Paka Dosha). That is they can be brought from shop and be used.
54. Penance of Upavasa is taking no food at all. During that time, if we suffer too much, we can take water, root vegetables, Ghee, milk, Rice boiled with water [without removing water], medicine and fruits. If we take any one of these, the fast is not considered broken. At the time of a fast penance, if in any one's house the Sradha cannot be performed for non-availability of a Brahmin, we can help them by participating in Sradha.
55. Before taking food, Parishechana (pouring water around the leaf), should be done with chanting the Manthra and taking water every time separately. It is not proper to take water once and do more than one Parishechana. Taking water after saying Amruthopastharanamasi (Poorva aabochanam) should be done together by people eating in groups. The water taken in the hand should be taken in completely. If that water falls on the food during day time it is like a drop of nectar. If it falls at night it is like a drop of alcoholic drink. At night as soon as the water is put in the hand, after finishing the food, we have to say Amruthabhidhanamasi and pour half of it at the right of the leaf and take the rest. This is called Pithru Theertham. When we pour Pithru Theertham we have to say "Rourave, apunya nilaye, padmarbudha nivasinaam artheenam udakam datham, akshayyam upathishtathu."
56. After taking food we have to gargle 12 times. Then wash leg and hands and do aachamanam. Only then we would be clean. By that time if we touch someone else, both the persons should take bath. After urinating we have to gargle four times, after stools 8 times, after cleaning the teeth 18 times. After these we have to do Aachamana. If we do not get good water, instead of Aachamanam we can touch the ear three times by right hand. This is called Srothrachamana.
57. When new water comes in the river, for ten days we are not supposed to take bath in it. They say that river enters in to her periods that time. Some people do not take bath from one to third day of Aadi Month (July 15 - August 15). But if eclipse, Upakama or Sankramana (first of the month) occurs during the period, we are permitted to take bath in the river.
58. Some people do evening Sandhya Vandana facing the West. Only Japa and Arghya (offering water) should be done facing the West. All other rituals including Aachamana should be done facing east or north.
59. Eclipse:
1. Four Yamams before Solar eclipse, we have to take food. (One Yaama is about 3 hours.)
2. But for lunar eclipse, food can be taken before two yamams also.
3. If the moon sets before the eclipse is over (Grahanasthamanam) then for the entire day, we should not take food and take food only after we see the moon.
4. If sun sets before the eclipse is over, we should not take any food during night and take food only after we see the Sun and take bath.
5. Those who live in sea shore can take bath in the sea when the eclipse begins but we should not take bath in ocean after the eclipse is over. This is because we are not supposed to take ocean bath during Prathama,
6. Even woman in her periods should take bath after the eclipse, in water poured by other women.
7. During eclipse all water is Ganges and all Brahmins are sage Vasishta.
8. Till end of eclipse we should chant Manthras and should not sleep.
9. Pregnant women should not come out during eclipse.
10. Food cooked before eclipse should not be eaten and it should be thrown away.
11. In case of curd or pickles, a piece of Durba should be put in them.
12. The charity and chanting of Manthras done during eclipse gives large returns.
13. In case of solar eclipse, Tharpana should be done as soon as eclipse begins and in case of lunar eclipse, it should be done when the eclipse is ending.
14. In ocean water Pithru Tharpanam should be done but for Aachamana we have to take water from home after bathing.
15. Sun and moon are lords of plants and so when the eclipse comes, our stomach should be empty.
16. Those whose Nakshtras fall at the eclipse time, should write the following Sloka on a dried leaf and Wear it on their forehead till the eclipse gets over.
Lunar eclipse sloka:
Indro, analo danda darasha ruksha prachedhaso Vayu,
Khubera, eesaa, majjanma, rukshe mama raahisamsthe,
Somoparagam shamayanthu sarve.
Solar eclipse sloka:
Indro, analo danda darasha ruksha prachedhaso Vayu,
Arkoparagam shamayanthu may.
Meaning:
Let Indra, Agni, Yama, Niryathi, Varuna, Vayu, Khubera, Eesaana remove the sufferings due to lunar / solar eclipse
To be continued
तस्याहम न प्रणश्यामी स: च मे न प्रणश्यति
"He who sees me everywhere, and sees everything in Me, he never gets separated from Me, nor do I get separated from him" -Bhagwat Gita Ch. VI verse 30
Dharma upadesam
http://www.celextel.org/mantrasandri...deshangal.html
Ariya Dharma Upadeshangal
By Srivathsa Ve. Somadeva Sarma
Translated by P. R. Ramachander
[I obtained the Tamil book "Ariya Dharmopadesangal" which has been published by Sri Ramamurthy Srouthigal, Sri Sadguru Dattatreya Nivasa, Vidyaranyapura, Sringeri - 577 139 from my friend Sri P. V. Anatha Narayanan. I am sure this book would be very much useful to all Brahmins to know the correct Acharas.]
Introduction By Srivathsa Ve. Somadeva Sarma: Achara (rituals) are only Dharma. The Acharas followed by holy people is Sadachara and Aacharas followed by eminent followers of the religion is Sishtachara. Though we generally tell Achara as Dharma, the rules which help practice Dharma is Sadachara. In some places Dharma is the dress and Achara are the limbs. For example, performing Sandhyavandana is a Dharma, but performing it after taking bath, after marking the forehead with sacred marks and wearing a Panchakacha is the aacharas. Even Vedas do not support a person who does not have aacharas. By following Achara we can get a long span of life and also become prosperous. Many Dharma Sasthras say that Dharma is born out of aacharas and anyone who leaves aacharas has a very short span of life. Karma or Dharma is a medicine that removes sins. Achara is the discipline that we have to follow in taking the medicine. When you do not follow the disciplines, in spite of taking medicine, the disease is not cured. Sometimes even the discipline only cures the diseases. One Purana says that a hunter who only followed Achara got a Brahmin birth. Any religious deed without following the aacharas does not give results.
1. The Sun should not be seen while rising, setting or at noon. It should not be seen during eclipse or in water
2. We should go round Brahmins, Sumangalis, Temple, Gods, Peepal Tree and Cow in a clock wise manner (Pradakshina). Dhileepa, who went round a cow in an anti-clock wise direction, did not get a child.
3. We should not blow air with our mouth on fire. We should not cross fire with our feet and we should not touch it with hand. We should not put out fire by pouring water on it. We should not dry our feet by showing our feet to the fire.
4. When we reach the sacred waters, we should not keep our feet on it first. We should take the water first and sprinkle on our head and then only wash our feet. We should not spit on water. We should not bathe without cloth in sacred waters. We should not do ablations in sacred water. We should take water in a vessel and do ablations. We should not answer nature's call inside the water. We should not put a stone in a lake or pond. Bhima who kept his feet first in sacred waters suffered.
5. Cooking food only for ourselves, making garland out of flower for our use and cooking kheer (Payasam) are all sinful activities. We should first offer everything to god and guests and take it ourselves.
6. Before going to bed, we have to wash our feet, dry it with a cloth, meditate on God and then only go to sleep. We should not sleep with our head pointing to northern direction. We should not sleep on a broken cot. We should not sleep in a dilapidated house; we should not wake up a person who is sleeping. Waking up elderly people is a great sin. While we sleep, all our sense organs are within our mind. If we wake up a person in half sleep, the organs instead of returning to proper places may go to places of other organs. (E.g. mouth may go to nose). Because of this a person can become blind or deaf.
7. Periods of a woman are a penance for Brahma Hathi. We should not go near them during those three days. While we are eating, we should not hear their voice. We should not use water and food after they have used it. On fourth day after bath, if she cooks by going near fire, she would get sick. The one who eats the food she prepares would get tainted. She would get pure only on fifth day.
8. All gods reside on a cow. Going round it in clock wise direction, comforting it, offering grass, rice bran, water and oil cake to it are blessed deeds. We would be blessed with children because of that. Kicking a cow with leg, hitting it with a stick, eating food without feeding it, informing the owner when it grazes in his field are sins. We would be born as an out caste by doing any of these. Once, a Brahmin threw away food as the dust raised by cow's feet fell on it. Due to it, he was born as an out caste called Kaisika, By serving a cow, King Dileepa got a great son called Raghu. We should try to protect the cow as much as possible. At least we should not trouble it.
9. We should not use cloths, slipper, garland, water pot, seat and bed that were used by others. It would be a sin and bring diseases.
10. The smoke from a corpse, early sun light, shadow of a lamp, shadow of a human being and shadow of an out caste should not fall on us. It would cause health problems and reduce our life span.
11. Nails and hair are like the lifeless feather on our body. A married householder should cut / shave his hair only once a month, that too after seeing an auspicious time. We should not cut our hair or shave ourselves. Our forefathers used to see proper Nakshatra and thithi. It is essential to see thithi only. If we do shaving on Chathurthi day, our mother will be affected and doing it in Chathurdasi would lead to bad effects to the sister; Sashti is not good to brother; Amavasya, Pournami, Ekadasi and Dwadasi are not good to father. Doing it in Prathma would lead to loss of Wealth, doing it on Navami would cause loss of grains, on Ashtami it would destroy our family. Wednesday is a good day for hair cutting / shaving. We should not get it done on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. After the death taint of a clan member, we should cut our hair and do Tharpana. If that day falls on a Friday, shaving can be done on Thursday itself. During taint and before the annual death ceremony (Sradham), it is essential to shave off all hairs of our body.
12. We should not nip our nails. If we do it, immediately we have to take a bath. You should not draw a line on floor using the nail. You should throw the cut nails outside our house. We should not bite the nails with our teeth. Moodhevi (Jyeshta Devi) says that such persons are the place of her personal residence.
13. We should not nip grass, durba or flower with our nails. Nails should not touch the water that we are drinking. Introducing finger to see whether water is hot is wrong. We should pour water in our hands and test it. If we sprinkle water using nails on other person, our nail would get infected. (Nakha chuthi. We should not nip the banana fruit with nail before offering it to God. We would remove the skin at the tip of our fingers. We should not remove sandal paste meant for God by using the nail. We should do it by our inner finger.
14. Without reason, we should not powder mud balls, tiles and bricks.
15. We should not wear a flower which has not been offered to God. We should not wear it in such a way that it is visible outside our hair. If those, who do not comb their hair, tie flowers with hair, the scent of the flower will not go out. Ladies should not wear flowers without scent. We should not stamp used flowers with our feet.
16. We should not travel in a cart drawn by a single bullock. If we go on a pilgrimage on such a cart, it would even destroy the blessed deeds which we have done earlier. Single bullock is the steed of Lord Shiva. The Goddess of Dharma assumes the form of a single bullock and carries Lord Shiva. Climbing on a single bullock or travelling in a cart being drawn by it is an insult to Dharma.
17. We should never enter our village or house through back door or entry point. We should always go by the front door. Dakshayani (Lord Shiva's wife) entered Daksha's house by the back door and she destroyed herself as well as the yaga.
18. At night, we should not stay below a tree. If pregnant woman sleeps there, her pregnancy would get affected. At night, birds stay on the tree and their poop may fall on us. At night ghosts and devils approach the trees. Also trees leave out carbon dioxide at night. So we may get sick. It has been told that in Kali age after 5000 years, the ghosts are but the diseases.
19. We should not gamble. Playing cards with money wager is gambling. Even Yudhishtra, who knew all Dharmas, lost everything due to gambling. Since gambling leads to lie, avarice and treachery, it is one of those great sins.
20. Crossing a river swimming with hand and leg is a sin. Our Sasthras want to protect us. Lot of dangers may happen, when we cross the river due to nature's fury. So cross the river in a boat and as soon as you reach the other shore, do Aachamana. This is to expatiate ourselves from the sin of crossing the river.
21. Please do not tell about Dharma or penance without request from others. It definitely should not be told to people who are lower in birth status than us. Food should only be given to hungry people. If we tell Dharma to people who do not want it, they will not believe in it. So initially create a desire to hear Dharma in them and after their request teach them.
22. We should not stamp by our feet the shadow of God's idol, Guru, Father, mother, elders and cow. We should not cross their shadows also. We should not stamp the shadows of sinners also nor cross it. We believe that a little of a person's power is there on his shadow also. So stamping or crossing would be disrespecting them. Ravana tried to cross Kailasa Mountain and got in to trouble.
23. We should always tell the truth. If that truth is going to hurt others, we should tell even that truth. We should not tell a lie to please another man. Once, a hunter was chasing a boar. In the path there was a sage who always told the truth. The hunter asked him which way the boar went. Instead of telling a lie or causing hurt to the boar, that sage told, "Would the people who see tell? Is the man who tells, the one who has seen it?"
24. We should not call any one as a sinner. If he had not committed a sin, the bad effect of committing the sin would reach the man who called him a sinner, suppose he has done the sin, half of its bad effect will come and reach us. Three brothers were going separately on celestial vehicles to heaven. All the three of them saw a Garuda killing a serpent. The first one said it is a sin. His vehicle fell down on earth. The second one told Garuda "please kill". His vehicle also fell down. The third one kept silent and reached heaven.
25. We should never doubt about existence of God, Heavens, Effect of Karma, Re-birth and Hell because Vedas confirm that they exist and sages much greater than us support that assumption. Once when sage Brugu told a king called Somakatha about his previous birth, he doubted about it. Immediately Soma Kantha was in great pain and he saluted the sage and got his pardon. In Katopanishad, Nachikethas asks Yama, whether they exist. Yama replied, "I am the one who takes away the soul after death. I am the one who determines about the quantum of punishment to them and I send them back to this earth to be born again. So believe, believe and believe."
26. A householder should not grow hair, beard and nails for more than one month. But after the death of his parents, he should not cut them for one year. He should not also cut them when his wife is in the family way.
27. Fearing that the beggar will come, we should not close the main door during the morning and evening.
28. Finding fault of Gods, Vedas and elders should not be done. When Brahma found fault with Shiva, Veerabhadra punished him by nipping off one of his heads. Once when devas requested Lord Vishnu to talk ill of Lord Shiva, he refused. It is also wrong to find fault with those who worship God.
29. A lamp should not be put out by blowing air by the mouth. A male should never put off a lamp.
30. We should not see our shadow in water or oil.
31. We should not gnash our teeth making sound. This is a symbol of a Rakshasa.
32. When we yawn, we should cover the mouth with our hand. Yawn is the messenger to disease, laziness and sleep. At that time, the bad air in our body escapes through our mouth. Suppose this air touches others, they would become sick.
33. If the shadow of a lamp, shadow of human beings, water from cloth, water from our hair, the dust raised by a goat, dust raised by donkey, dust raised by ladies, the air made by a winnow, the dust that comes up while sweeping falls on our body, even if we have wealth equal to Indra it would be lost. They would take away the effect of good deeds done by us.
34. Man should not take food in the row of females or children. They should not take food sitting in the same row as their wives. But they can do so, after the marriage ceremony or during travel.
35. Only if we take clean food, our mind would be clean. The cook, the people who eat and those who serve it should all be clean.
36. We should not sleep during day time. We should not make love during day time. Milk should not be drunk during day time. After noon, we should not go round that Peepal tree.
37. Jyeshta Devi (Moodhevi) lives with people who do wear cloth, who do not wear Pancha Kacham or only wear loin cloth. So except during times of need, we should wear Pancha Kacham. In North India even children are habituated to wear this. "Those who do not have Kacha, those who leave a tail and tie Kacha, yhose who tie Kacha on the waist thread and those who do not tie Kacha are like people without cloth". They should not be seen during performance of any ritual. If we happen to see them, we have to take bath along with the dress we wear. The edges of a cloth should not hang while we wear the Kacha. Through that our strength will go away. Even Muslims wear cloth without the edge hanging about.
38. Our forefathers wore silk dress with borders. Silk protects the power of our soul. There is no good effect of doing a ritual without wearing Kacha. So even for rituals like Sandhya Vandana we have to wear the Kacham,
39. We should not wash our Dhothi at night. We should not sweep the floor at night nor throw trash outside our home. At night we should not stay in the shadow of any tree. We should not dig or plough earth at night. We should not talk about secrets at night.
40. We should not enter in between cows or in between the Brahmins, between fire and a Brahmin, in between husband and wife, in between teacher and student, In between brothers or sisters or in between children. If we go in between Nandi and Shiva, Shiva and Parvathi, Lord Vishnu and Garuda or Vishnu and his consorts, the effect of all good deeds done by us earlier will be lost. If we go round them in clock wise direction, we would get good effect.
41. If we stub against a stone while walking, then we should take some mud from that place and wear it on our forehead. That is called Muruthika and it will protect us from wicked spirits.
42. Those who have father or elder brother should not wear a ring made of silver (called Tharjani) in our pointer finger. Others can wear it. That finger is supposed to be defiled because Lord Shiva nipped a head of Brahma by that finger. For worship or Tharpana, the pointer finger should not be used. Silver represents Rudra and if we wear silver on that finger and touch other fingers with that finger, the others would not be defiled.
43. During Sandhya Vandhana on Chathurthi, Ashtami and Chaturdasi days, we should chant Gayathri 54 times. On Sapthami day we have to chant 37 times and on Amavasya, Pournavasya, and Prathama 26 times.
44. Daily in the mornings, we have to chant Gayathri 108 times. Gayathri should be chanted after the hands are covered by a cloth and kept in front of us. When we get death or birth taint, we should chant Gayathri ten times.
45. Even if the sacred threads are not broken, it should be changed once in four months. When thread is cut or when the taint comes and goes away and in Sravana, we have to wear a new sacred thread. If we happen to touch a sinner, bad person, barber or ladies in periods, we have to take bath and change the sacred thread.
46. On Ashtami, Chathurthi, Amavasya (new moon), Pournavasya (full moon), Sankramana (first of a month), First of a year (Manvathi or Yugadhi), Previous day of Sradha and on the last day of the taint, we should not take food at night.
47. People who are above eight years of age or below 80 years should not take any food on Ekadasi day. Those who are sick or weak can take milk and fruits for one time. Those who are not able to live that way can take boiled rice along with water but without any spices or vegetables for one time. There is no parihara (redemption) for taking food on Ekadasi day. It is a great sin. Even if Ekadasi comes during taint, we should not take food. The penance of Ekadasi would give pleasures in life on earth and later in salvation.
48. Those answering calls of nature at night, it is necessary for them to wash their legs and hands, it is not necessary to do Aachamana.
49. Except on the days of eclipse, we should not take bath at mid of the night. If there is a need, we can show a lamp to the water and then take bath.
50. After bidding farewell to friends and relatives or after doing worship or after marriage or any sacred function, we should not take bath.
51. On Sundays or on Sapthami days, we should not eat gooseberry (nellikkai). This should not be eaten at night. But if Dwadasi comes on Sunday, by the special rule, we can take it along with Agathi leaf and Chundaikkai.
52. On no night we should eat gooseberry or ginger or curds, paddy or fried flour.
53. For turmeric, ghee, salt, parboiled rice, Betel nut and jaggery there is no taint of cooking (Paka Dosha). That is they can be brought from shop and be used.
54. Penance of Upavasa is taking no food at all. During that time, if we suffer too much, we can take water, root vegetables, Ghee, milk, Rice boiled with water [without removing water], medicine and fruits. If we take any one of these, the fast is not considered broken. At the time of a fast penance, if in any one's house the Sradha cannot be performed for non-availability of a Brahmin, we can help them by participating in Sradha.
55. Before taking food, Parishechana (pouring water around the leaf), should be done with chanting the Manthra and taking water every time separately. It is not proper to take water once and do more than one Parishechana. Taking water after saying Amruthopastharanamasi (Poorva aabochanam) should be done together by people eating in groups. The water taken in the hand should be taken in completely. If that water falls on the food during day time it is like a drop of nectar. If it falls at night it is like a drop of alcoholic drink. At night as soon as the water is put in the hand, after finishing the food, we have to say Amruthabhidhanamasi and pour half of it at the right of the leaf and take the rest. This is called Pithru Theertham. When we pour Pithru Theertham we have to say "Rourave, apunya nilaye, padmarbudha nivasinaam artheenam udakam datham, akshayyam upathishtathu."
56. After taking food we have to gargle 12 times. Then wash leg and hands and do aachamanam. Only then we would be clean. By that time if we touch someone else, both the persons should take bath. After urinating we have to gargle four times, after stools 8 times, after cleaning the teeth 18 times. After these we have to do Aachamana. If we do not get good water, instead of Aachamanam we can touch the ear three times by right hand. This is called Srothrachamana.
57. When new water comes in the river, for ten days we are not supposed to take bath in it. They say that river enters in to her periods that time. Some people do not take bath from one to third day of Aadi Month (July 15 - August 15). But if eclipse, Upakama or Sankramana (first of the month) occurs during the period, we are permitted to take bath in the river.
58. Some people do evening Sandhya Vandana facing the West. Only Japa and Arghya (offering water) should be done facing the West. All other rituals including Aachamana should be done facing east or north.
59. Eclipse:
1. Four Yamams before Solar eclipse, we have to take food. (One Yaama is about 3 hours.)
2. But for lunar eclipse, food can be taken before two yamams also.
3. If the moon sets before the eclipse is over (Grahanasthamanam) then for the entire day, we should not take food and take food only after we see the moon.
4. If sun sets before the eclipse is over, we should not take any food during night and take food only after we see the Sun and take bath.
5. Those who live in sea shore can take bath in the sea when the eclipse begins but we should not take bath in ocean after the eclipse is over. This is because we are not supposed to take ocean bath during Prathama,
6. Even woman in her periods should take bath after the eclipse, in water poured by other women.
7. During eclipse all water is Ganges and all Brahmins are sage Vasishta.
8. Till end of eclipse we should chant Manthras and should not sleep.
9. Pregnant women should not come out during eclipse.
10. Food cooked before eclipse should not be eaten and it should be thrown away.
11. In case of curd or pickles, a piece of Durba should be put in them.
12. The charity and chanting of Manthras done during eclipse gives large returns.
13. In case of solar eclipse, Tharpana should be done as soon as eclipse begins and in case of lunar eclipse, it should be done when the eclipse is ending.
14. In ocean water Pithru Tharpanam should be done but for Aachamana we have to take water from home after bathing.
15. Sun and moon are lords of plants and so when the eclipse comes, our stomach should be empty.
16. Those whose Nakshtras fall at the eclipse time, should write the following Sloka on a dried leaf and Wear it on their forehead till the eclipse gets over.
Lunar eclipse sloka:
Indro, analo danda darasha ruksha prachedhaso Vayu,
Khubera, eesaa, majjanma, rukshe mama raahisamsthe,
Somoparagam shamayanthu sarve.
Solar eclipse sloka:
Indro, analo danda darasha ruksha prachedhaso Vayu,
Arkoparagam shamayanthu may.
Meaning:
Let Indra, Agni, Yama, Niryathi, Varuna, Vayu, Khubera, Eesaana remove the sufferings due to lunar / solar eclipse
To be continued
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