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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
Continues
60. Drinking tender coconut water in a bell metal vessel is equivalent to drinking of toddy. If needed use silver vessel.
61. We should not keep milk, sandal paste and flowers in a copper vessel.
62. Ellurundai (sweet made of Gingili) and Thilannam (Rice made of Gingili) should be made only for offering to manes and devas. We should not cook it for ourselves. If we make Ellurundai or mix of jaggery and gingili and offer it to the Peepal tree, then we would get cured of diseases. If we distribute thilanna on Saturdays, sins would go away.
63. Sravana Dwadasi (Dwadasi with Sravana star (thiruonam) is greater than Ekadasi. If Sravana Dwadasi comes, it is better to fast on Dwadasi day, than on Ekadasi day.
64. Madhyahnika time is at 12 Noon. Gouna time is from 8.30 AM. On Dwdasi day before Madhyahnika time comes, in Gouna Kala we would do Madhyahnikam, Vaisva devam etc. This is because Dwadasi Paranai (taking food) should be done before Madhyahnika time. But Dwadasi sradha cannot be done in the morning.
65. If Dwadasi is only for a very little time, all rituals should be finished before Dwadasi ends and food for Dwadasi should be taken. But if it ends in very early morning, Dwadasi can be observed by taking Thulasi water. King Ambareesha did like that.
66. Whatever taint may come, the Ekadasi Vrutha should be observed. It is as important as Sandhya Vandana. But worship and Dhana (charity to Brahmins) should be got done by someone who does not have the taint.
67. Upavasa (fasting) is a ritual meant for cleaning of the body and the mind as well as to get blessings of gods. So without religious need, fasting should not be done.
68. Fast is an important method to achieve concentration of mind. Because body is the most important requirement for doing Dharma, you should not do fast till the body becomes sick. Because body depends on food for health, you should not undertake unnecessary fasting. You should not unnecessarily take food also.
69. Drinking too much and eating too much are sinful acts. Once when Bheema asked Yudhishtra how he will fall, he told him he would fall due to over eating and over drinking.
70. Those who cannot fast completely, can fast eating fruits and drinking milk. This is called Phalahara (Palaharam in Tamil). Eating hard to digest breakfast items like Uppma, Dosa, Adai etc is not fasting. Elders say that even one time fasting is good. Once Bheema told Vyasa, "I cannot fast on all Ekadasis. I will take food once in all but fast on one Ekadasi". Sage Vyasa agreed to this proposal. That Ekadasi is called Bheema Ekadasi.
71. After breaking fast on Dwadasi day, take a leaf of Thulasi after offering it to God. This would remove all problems of body and mind. Actually this should be done daily as Thulasi protects our mind and body.
72. During fast you should not drink water often. You should not clean the teeth in such a way that water in the gums is squeezed out. We should not use Thamboola and sleep during day time. Walking, fighting, talking loudly and loose talk would destroy the good effect of fasting. Talking passionately and company of women should be avoided.
73. What is Nithyopavasam (Daily fasting)? Daily taking food only twice, not taking food in between and taking every handful of food after saying "Govinda" is Nithyopavasam.
74. During Dwadasi we have to eat gooseberry, Chundaikai and Agathi Keerai. These are special items. Taking all of them is very good. But at least one of them should be taken.
75. Food that should be avoided during Dwadasi: Snake Gourd, Brinjal, Onion, Honey, Garlic, food from house of unknown people, sleeping in day time, eating food twice, love making, oil bath should be avoided. They would remove the good effects of Ekadasi fast.
76. Why this Paaranai in the morning? The one eighth portion of the Dwadasi thithi on that day is called Harivasaram. We should complete worship, Vaisvadeva and later offer food to God. King Ambareesha knew about it and took Thulasi water during that time. Doing Paranai without fasting on Ekadasi day is useless.
77. Why should Garlic and Onion be avoided? These take away the Brahmanyam within us, which was built by rituals. People, who eat these without knowing it, should once more celebrate Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony). Then only they are eligible to do daily rituals like Sandhya Vandana and ceremonies like Sradha. Though medicinally they cure some diseases, they give extra wrong energy (Madham) to people and spoil the mind. If we have to take it for medicinal purposes, we can take it but later do redemption. For ladies, drinking of Pancha Gavya is sufficient. So people who chant Gayathri should not take these just for taste or for strength.
78. Things which are equivalent to Alcohol: Water touched by nail, water drunk using left hand in times other than food time, water drunk standing up, drinking left over water drunk by somebody else, tender coconut water kept in bell metal, hot water and milk kept in copper vessel are equivalent to alcoholic drinks.
79. What should be avoided: Taking bath in Dhobhi Ghat, water in an iron vessel, taking gooseberry on Sundays, Sapthami and at night, Buttermilk churned by hand, milk in the day time, curd at night and Sathuma (multi grain flour) should be avoided.
80. Month based on Sun entering a particular Rasi is called Souramana and months based on next day of Amavasya to the next Amavasya of a month is called Chandramana. Sasthras prescribe certain rituals should be based on Souramana month and others on Chandramana month.
81. Thula Snana, Dheepavali, Karthigai Dheepa, Dhanurmasa Pooja and Shivarathri should celebrated on the Soura Mana Month.
82. Chandra Darsanam: We should not see Moon on Chathurthi day. If we see, someone will find fault with us with no basis. Since Lord Krishna saw the Chathurthi Moon, Sathrajit told that he has stolen the Syamanthaka Gem. If we think about the story of how he fought with Jambavan and brought back the gem, the problem due to seeing moon will not occur.
83. Things which reduce our life span: Drying ourselves in morning sun, being touched by the smoke from the corpse, making love to a lady elder than us, drinking water without filtering it and eating curd at night would reduce our life span every day. Not performing Oupasana, eating food meant for somebody else and eating food not supposed to be eaten, would reduce the life span according to Lord Yama himself.
84, Drying in the evening sun, the homa smoke touching us, making love to woman younger than us, drinking pure water and eating milk and rice at night would daily increase the life span. Following rules of food, doing Oupasanam, daily saluting elderly people would also increase life span. If we do not feed a guest, Nachikethas says that the wealth of our progeny would be destroyed.
85. If we make guests wait outside and take food inside the house, that food is like the cow's meat and the water is equal to toddy.
86. Never taking loan is the best. If there is need, we can take it and return it speedily. We should pay the full loan taken at that time. Suppose we take loan from someone and if we die without returning it, in the next birth, we will be born as his child and after taking that amount, that child will die.
87. We should never spend more than our income. Respectability is much greater than life we should never do anything by which we lose our respectability. The life without respect is no life at all.
88. The body is like a water bubble and purely temporary. Wealth is also not permanent. We should never postpone doing good deeds. What is the guarantee that we will be there tomorrow? As soon as we think of a good deed, we should immediately do it. Once a guest came when Rama sat down to eat, Lakshmana asked the guest to wait so that they can cook fresh food and feed him. But then Rama called the guest and told, mind, wealth, money and life are unstable. That is we cannot say as to how they will be in the next moment. So kindly take food with us."
89. Paste should not be kept on the sandal stone or on a stick. The sandal paste kept on the stone, the remaining food after a cat ate it and seeing our own shadow in water can even remove Indra's Wealth.
90. If the dust raised by hooves of a goat or that one raised by donkey, or the dust raised by broom or the dust raised by feet of ladies falls on us, our Wealth would be destroyed.
91. With this body having six senses, we should get salvation which is the ever living joy. The devotees who carry god in their mind are mobile temples. Any help that we do them is worship to God. Even though we are not great devotees, some part of God is in every one of us. So we should help others. There is no blessed deed better than this. We should help others by our body and wealth.
92. When we are in our native place we should follow all rituals prescribed by Sastras. When we go outside our place, it is sufficient if we do half the rituals. In towns, quarter is sufficient. While travelling, as much as it is possible can be done.
93. When we do Sandhya Vandhana, after we give Arghya, we should do Pradakshina. That is what is called Athma Pradakshina. We should not do Athma Pradakshina in temples, river banks and near a Peepal Tree. If we do, we will be affected by Brahma Hathya sin. Showing our back to God is a sin.
94. Keeping flower over the top of ears, man applying sandal paste only on chest and keeping Thulasi on the hair are sins. You should keep flower on hair, Thulasi over the ear and apply sandal paste on chest and arms. Ladies can wear sandal paste on their neck and arms.
95. We have to keep secret of our age, wealth, quarrels in our family, manthra which has been taught to us by a Guru, our love, our charity, prizes given to us by others, insults we have to bear and loans that we have taken. If others ask, we should give some approximate figure only. We should not hide anything from our Guru and close friend.
96. The sorrow, we cause to others, is sorrow caused to God by us. We would suffer for doing that. The one who does help to others is helping himself. One who causes sorrow to others, causes sorrow to himself. Sasthra says Paropakara Punyaya, Papaya Para Peedanam (helping others is blessed; causing hurt to others is a sin).
97. Veda says that all gods stay inside the body of a person who knows Vedas. So worship done to him is like worship of all gods. Like that, the hurt we cause to them is like hurting all gods. We should not trouble anyone. Specially, we should not trouble Brahmins. Playfully Samba put on a makeup of a lady and asked Saptha Rishis as to what type of a child would be born to him. Because of that, the axe that will destroy his entire clan was born to him. An emperor called Nruga troubled Brahmins and was born as a Chameleon.
98. We should not stand in street junction at mid night or after eating in a Sradha or at dawn or dusk.
99. Jyeshta Devi would stay permanently with a Brahmin who does not wear a cloth or one who does not wear Pancha Kacham or one who wears only loin cloth or one who is desirous of quarrel.
100. We should stand beyond two hand distance when a cart comes, beyond ten hand distance in case of a horse and 1000 hand distance in case of an elephant. In case of a bad man we should be far far away. These are actions which give results immediately (Drushta). This shows that Sasthra is very much bothered about the safety of our body.
101. The scorpion has poison in its horn, for flies and mosquitoes it is on their head and snake has poison on its fangs. But for a bad man poison is everywhere.
102. The father who dies leaving loans to be repaid by the son is like his enemy. The father who does not give us knowledge or teach us humility is his enemy. An ugly or very pretty wife is a man's enemy.
103. When we visit a place where Fire sacrifice is being performed, we should not go empty handed but carry Samith. Similarly when we visit a farm, home, temple, lady in a family way, senior citizens, Guru and King we should not go empty handed but should carry some fertilizer, something which is of use in the house, a plate of fruits, flowers, coconut, camphor etc., to the temple and food offering to others. Kuchela who took Aval (beaten rice) to see Krishna became rich.
104. Helping an extremely poor man, making arrangements for worship in temples for the persons who cannot afford it and cremation of an orphan corpse are equivalent to performance of Aswamedha.
105. While gargling or cleaning our teeth, we should not use the pointer finger. If we do, we will go to hell.
106. Till our daughter gets a child, we should not take food in our daughter's married home.
107. At the time of taking food, we should wash our hand and leg, perform Aachamana and eat food facing North.
108. We should not take food with single cloth, wet cloth, wearing silk, without chanting god's names, without putting marks on our forehead or with untied hair.
109. We should not eat the cooked rice for which Vaiswadevam has not been done or which is not offered to god. This applies even to food offered by our Guru.
110. Only after setting apart the rice meant for Vaiswadevam and offering it to God, we should start taking it.
111. Without doing Pranagni Hothram (manthras we say before taking food) you should not eat food. As soon as rice is served, we should hold the leaf with our hand.
112. We should do Aabochanam (taking a sip of water telling Manthras) only with water poured by others. When we are taking food in a group all people should do it together. No water should remain in our hand and we should not make any sound while taking that water.
113. After food is served, till Pranagni Hothram is complete we should not talk with anyone. It is better that we should not talk while taking food. But when we eat with a guest, we should talk to him and be hospitable. This does not go against the rule of being silent. During Aabochanam, when we take rice one by one, each should not be chewed by the teeth but should be swallowed.
114. We should take only that much rice in our hand, which will fill our mouth. We should take food in such a way that the food along with five fingers just enters the mouth. We should not take large quantity and then take it out and keep it on the leaf. If we keep it and take it again, it would be like a dog eating what it has vomited.
115. We should not sit in a row with lot of people and eat food. We should not eat facing others also. If you happen to sit in a row, we have to chant a mantra called Trisuparna. If you do not know it, chant names of god.
116. Every time we put a handful of food in our mouth, we have to say, "Govinda, Govinda". If we do this, it is as if we are observing fast.
117. While eating, we have to take one part of food, one part water and leave other part for air to be healthy.
118. Except while eating, we have to keep the water glass on our right. Water kept on the left, water drunk with left hand, water drunk while standing, drinking of remaining water after another one has drunk it, are equal to drinking toddy.
119. Serving food other than fried food, fruits and sweets, should not be served by hand or iron ladle or by left hand, it is equal to beef.
120. When people are eating in a row, if one man gets up, all the leaves would get tainted (Yechil). In emergency cases draw a line with water on both sides and get up. This makes you different from the row.
121. The water to be taken after food with Manthra "Amthuthabhidhanamasi" (Uthara Abochanam) should also be poured in our hands by somebody else. It can be immediately taken. There is no rule that all people should finish eating food together. Half the water has to be taken and the other half after taking it round the leaf should be poured below the leaf on the right side through the space in between thumb and first finger (Pithru Theertham).
122. The water poured from the tip of fingers is Deva Theertham, What is poured by the bottom of the hand is Brahma Theertham. What is poured to the left side by the middle of the palm is Rishi Theertham. What is poured in between the thumb and first finger is Pithru Theertham.
123. That Uchishta Theertham which we pour on the right side below the leaf after taking food, is supposed to quench the thirst of people in the rourava hell.
124. "Rourave apunye nilaye Padma arpudha nivaasinaam. Arthinaam udakam datham akshayyam upathishtathu" is the manthra that we have to tell when we pour the Uchishtya Theertham below the leaf.
125. When the cooked rice is brought, we have to say "asmakam nithyam asthu yethath" (let me get like this daily). When we finish and get up, we are supposed to say "Anna Datha Sukhi Bhava" (let him, who has given food, live happily).
126. Till we wash our hand after food and do Aachamana, another man who has not washed his hand is not supposed to touch us. If he does, both of us have to take bath. With hand used to take food, we are not supposed to take water in a vessel. Similarly suppose someone gives water with unwashed hand, we should not use it. We are supposed to give water for washing some one's hand only after we do Aachamana.
127. After food, after sitting and doing Aachamana, telling the following prayer if we wipe our eyes, the eye sight will never fade:
Charyathimcha, sukayamaacha, chyavanam sakram aswinou,
Bukthamathre smareth yasthu chakshu thasya na heeyathe.
If immediately after we do this recitation, we remember Charyatha and other sages, Sukanya, Chyavana, Indra and Aswini Devas, then our eye sight will never fade.
128. We should move our hands over our stomach saying the following Manthra, then all the food we have taken would be properly digested:
Agasthya, Agni, padapa analascha, buktham maya annam,
Jarayanthu asesham sukham chame thath parinama sambhavam.
Meaning: "Let Agasthya. fire god and Padapagni digest all the food that I have taken. Let my body be healthy."
129. Immediately after taking food, we have to walk one hundred steps. If we sit or lie down immediately after taking food, there would be diseases of the stomach. If we walk fast or run, our life span would reduce. We will have fear of Yama.
130. Before Uthrabochana, the housewife or those who serve food should enquire whether more food is required. If we do not do that, the blessings which we would get by giving food will vanish and also we will get sin. It is a practice to do like this to the Sradha Brahmin.
131. To the guest, after he eats the food, along with Thamboola, we should give at least a small Dakshina (cash present). Otherwise we would not get the good effect of feeding.
132. As soon as we see an elder, we have to stand and then salute him. For men, we have to chant "Abhivadaye" and then salute. Some people say "Chathusagara paryantham Gobrahmanebhya subham bhavathu (let good happen to all Brahmins for a width of four oceans) and then tell Abhivadaye. Some people do Namaskaram and then tell Abhivadaye. These should be done as per the practice of our family.
133. If we are permitted to touch the elder, then after saluting the elder, we should touch his feet by keeping our hand in a cross fashion. That is we should touch his right feet by our right hand and left feet by left hand. If we are not permitted to touch the elder after saluting him, we should do criss cross touching on floor in front of him.
134. Abhivaadaye, Bhargava, Chyaavana, Aapnavaana, Ourva, Jamadagnya, Pancharsheya pravaran vitha (Srivathsa Gothra) Aapasthambha suthra, Yajur veda shaakha adhyayi, Some deva sarmaa naamaham asmibho - This is a sample Abhivaadaye manthra, You have to fill it up with your Pravara, Gothra, Suthra, Veda and Name. You should not tell Pravaranvitha but Pravaraan Vitha.
135. Pravara saints are the important saints born in the family of Gothra sage. In some Gothras, there are 7 Pravara Rishis, in some 5, in some 3 and in some only one. Accordingly we have to say Saptha Rishaya (7) or Pancha Rishaya (5) orTrya Rishaya (3) or Yeka Rishaya (1). Abhivadahye means, I am introducing myself.
136. In the beginning, all gothras originated from 9 rishis and then they grew to hundreds. The rishi to whose clan we belong to is called Gothra Rishi. People having same gothra are referred to as Sagothra and people having the same rishi in their pravara are called Sapravara. We should not marry from our Gothra or our Pravara.
137. Asmi means, "I am as indicated". Bho is the form of address to elderly people.
138. There are many Suthras like Aasvalaayana, Kousheedhaka, Bodhayana, Bharadwaja, Sathyaashada, Vaikhanasa, Kathyayana, Drahyayana, Jaiminiya etc. Each of those sages have given the method of performing the rituals in a man's life. Those before death are termed as Poorva Prayoga and those after death are called Apara Prayoga.
139. The famous suthras are Aswalayana for Rig Veda, Bodhayana, Aapasthambha, Baradwaaja, Sathyaashaada and Vaikanasa for Krishna Yajurveda, Kathyayana for Shukla Yajurveda and Drahyayana and Jaimineeya for Sama Veda.
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
Continues
60. Drinking tender coconut water in a bell metal vessel is equivalent to drinking of toddy. If needed use silver vessel.
61. We should not keep milk, sandal paste and flowers in a copper vessel.
62. Ellurundai (sweet made of Gingili) and Thilannam (Rice made of Gingili) should be made only for offering to manes and devas. We should not cook it for ourselves. If we make Ellurundai or mix of jaggery and gingili and offer it to the Peepal tree, then we would get cured of diseases. If we distribute thilanna on Saturdays, sins would go away.
63. Sravana Dwadasi (Dwadasi with Sravana star (thiruonam) is greater than Ekadasi. If Sravana Dwadasi comes, it is better to fast on Dwadasi day, than on Ekadasi day.
64. Madhyahnika time is at 12 Noon. Gouna time is from 8.30 AM. On Dwdasi day before Madhyahnika time comes, in Gouna Kala we would do Madhyahnikam, Vaisva devam etc. This is because Dwadasi Paranai (taking food) should be done before Madhyahnika time. But Dwadasi sradha cannot be done in the morning.
65. If Dwadasi is only for a very little time, all rituals should be finished before Dwadasi ends and food for Dwadasi should be taken. But if it ends in very early morning, Dwadasi can be observed by taking Thulasi water. King Ambareesha did like that.
66. Whatever taint may come, the Ekadasi Vrutha should be observed. It is as important as Sandhya Vandana. But worship and Dhana (charity to Brahmins) should be got done by someone who does not have the taint.
67. Upavasa (fasting) is a ritual meant for cleaning of the body and the mind as well as to get blessings of gods. So without religious need, fasting should not be done.
68. Fast is an important method to achieve concentration of mind. Because body is the most important requirement for doing Dharma, you should not do fast till the body becomes sick. Because body depends on food for health, you should not undertake unnecessary fasting. You should not unnecessarily take food also.
69. Drinking too much and eating too much are sinful acts. Once when Bheema asked Yudhishtra how he will fall, he told him he would fall due to over eating and over drinking.
70. Those who cannot fast completely, can fast eating fruits and drinking milk. This is called Phalahara (Palaharam in Tamil). Eating hard to digest breakfast items like Uppma, Dosa, Adai etc is not fasting. Elders say that even one time fasting is good. Once Bheema told Vyasa, "I cannot fast on all Ekadasis. I will take food once in all but fast on one Ekadasi". Sage Vyasa agreed to this proposal. That Ekadasi is called Bheema Ekadasi.
71. After breaking fast on Dwadasi day, take a leaf of Thulasi after offering it to God. This would remove all problems of body and mind. Actually this should be done daily as Thulasi protects our mind and body.
72. During fast you should not drink water often. You should not clean the teeth in such a way that water in the gums is squeezed out. We should not use Thamboola and sleep during day time. Walking, fighting, talking loudly and loose talk would destroy the good effect of fasting. Talking passionately and company of women should be avoided.
73. What is Nithyopavasam (Daily fasting)? Daily taking food only twice, not taking food in between and taking every handful of food after saying "Govinda" is Nithyopavasam.
74. During Dwadasi we have to eat gooseberry, Chundaikai and Agathi Keerai. These are special items. Taking all of them is very good. But at least one of them should be taken.
75. Food that should be avoided during Dwadasi: Snake Gourd, Brinjal, Onion, Honey, Garlic, food from house of unknown people, sleeping in day time, eating food twice, love making, oil bath should be avoided. They would remove the good effects of Ekadasi fast.
76. Why this Paaranai in the morning? The one eighth portion of the Dwadasi thithi on that day is called Harivasaram. We should complete worship, Vaisvadeva and later offer food to God. King Ambareesha knew about it and took Thulasi water during that time. Doing Paranai without fasting on Ekadasi day is useless.
77. Why should Garlic and Onion be avoided? These take away the Brahmanyam within us, which was built by rituals. People, who eat these without knowing it, should once more celebrate Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony). Then only they are eligible to do daily rituals like Sandhya Vandana and ceremonies like Sradha. Though medicinally they cure some diseases, they give extra wrong energy (Madham) to people and spoil the mind. If we have to take it for medicinal purposes, we can take it but later do redemption. For ladies, drinking of Pancha Gavya is sufficient. So people who chant Gayathri should not take these just for taste or for strength.
78. Things which are equivalent to Alcohol: Water touched by nail, water drunk using left hand in times other than food time, water drunk standing up, drinking left over water drunk by somebody else, tender coconut water kept in bell metal, hot water and milk kept in copper vessel are equivalent to alcoholic drinks.
79. What should be avoided: Taking bath in Dhobhi Ghat, water in an iron vessel, taking gooseberry on Sundays, Sapthami and at night, Buttermilk churned by hand, milk in the day time, curd at night and Sathuma (multi grain flour) should be avoided.
80. Month based on Sun entering a particular Rasi is called Souramana and months based on next day of Amavasya to the next Amavasya of a month is called Chandramana. Sasthras prescribe certain rituals should be based on Souramana month and others on Chandramana month.
81. Thula Snana, Dheepavali, Karthigai Dheepa, Dhanurmasa Pooja and Shivarathri should celebrated on the Soura Mana Month.
82. Chandra Darsanam: We should not see Moon on Chathurthi day. If we see, someone will find fault with us with no basis. Since Lord Krishna saw the Chathurthi Moon, Sathrajit told that he has stolen the Syamanthaka Gem. If we think about the story of how he fought with Jambavan and brought back the gem, the problem due to seeing moon will not occur.
83. Things which reduce our life span: Drying ourselves in morning sun, being touched by the smoke from the corpse, making love to a lady elder than us, drinking water without filtering it and eating curd at night would reduce our life span every day. Not performing Oupasana, eating food meant for somebody else and eating food not supposed to be eaten, would reduce the life span according to Lord Yama himself.
84, Drying in the evening sun, the homa smoke touching us, making love to woman younger than us, drinking pure water and eating milk and rice at night would daily increase the life span. Following rules of food, doing Oupasanam, daily saluting elderly people would also increase life span. If we do not feed a guest, Nachikethas says that the wealth of our progeny would be destroyed.
85. If we make guests wait outside and take food inside the house, that food is like the cow's meat and the water is equal to toddy.
86. Never taking loan is the best. If there is need, we can take it and return it speedily. We should pay the full loan taken at that time. Suppose we take loan from someone and if we die without returning it, in the next birth, we will be born as his child and after taking that amount, that child will die.
87. We should never spend more than our income. Respectability is much greater than life we should never do anything by which we lose our respectability. The life without respect is no life at all.
88. The body is like a water bubble and purely temporary. Wealth is also not permanent. We should never postpone doing good deeds. What is the guarantee that we will be there tomorrow? As soon as we think of a good deed, we should immediately do it. Once a guest came when Rama sat down to eat, Lakshmana asked the guest to wait so that they can cook fresh food and feed him. But then Rama called the guest and told, mind, wealth, money and life are unstable. That is we cannot say as to how they will be in the next moment. So kindly take food with us."
89. Paste should not be kept on the sandal stone or on a stick. The sandal paste kept on the stone, the remaining food after a cat ate it and seeing our own shadow in water can even remove Indra's Wealth.
90. If the dust raised by hooves of a goat or that one raised by donkey, or the dust raised by broom or the dust raised by feet of ladies falls on us, our Wealth would be destroyed.
91. With this body having six senses, we should get salvation which is the ever living joy. The devotees who carry god in their mind are mobile temples. Any help that we do them is worship to God. Even though we are not great devotees, some part of God is in every one of us. So we should help others. There is no blessed deed better than this. We should help others by our body and wealth.
92. When we are in our native place we should follow all rituals prescribed by Sastras. When we go outside our place, it is sufficient if we do half the rituals. In towns, quarter is sufficient. While travelling, as much as it is possible can be done.
93. When we do Sandhya Vandhana, after we give Arghya, we should do Pradakshina. That is what is called Athma Pradakshina. We should not do Athma Pradakshina in temples, river banks and near a Peepal Tree. If we do, we will be affected by Brahma Hathya sin. Showing our back to God is a sin.
94. Keeping flower over the top of ears, man applying sandal paste only on chest and keeping Thulasi on the hair are sins. You should keep flower on hair, Thulasi over the ear and apply sandal paste on chest and arms. Ladies can wear sandal paste on their neck and arms.
95. We have to keep secret of our age, wealth, quarrels in our family, manthra which has been taught to us by a Guru, our love, our charity, prizes given to us by others, insults we have to bear and loans that we have taken. If others ask, we should give some approximate figure only. We should not hide anything from our Guru and close friend.
96. The sorrow, we cause to others, is sorrow caused to God by us. We would suffer for doing that. The one who does help to others is helping himself. One who causes sorrow to others, causes sorrow to himself. Sasthra says Paropakara Punyaya, Papaya Para Peedanam (helping others is blessed; causing hurt to others is a sin).
97. Veda says that all gods stay inside the body of a person who knows Vedas. So worship done to him is like worship of all gods. Like that, the hurt we cause to them is like hurting all gods. We should not trouble anyone. Specially, we should not trouble Brahmins. Playfully Samba put on a makeup of a lady and asked Saptha Rishis as to what type of a child would be born to him. Because of that, the axe that will destroy his entire clan was born to him. An emperor called Nruga troubled Brahmins and was born as a Chameleon.
98. We should not stand in street junction at mid night or after eating in a Sradha or at dawn or dusk.
99. Jyeshta Devi would stay permanently with a Brahmin who does not wear a cloth or one who does not wear Pancha Kacham or one who wears only loin cloth or one who is desirous of quarrel.
100. We should stand beyond two hand distance when a cart comes, beyond ten hand distance in case of a horse and 1000 hand distance in case of an elephant. In case of a bad man we should be far far away. These are actions which give results immediately (Drushta). This shows that Sasthra is very much bothered about the safety of our body.
101. The scorpion has poison in its horn, for flies and mosquitoes it is on their head and snake has poison on its fangs. But for a bad man poison is everywhere.
102. The father who dies leaving loans to be repaid by the son is like his enemy. The father who does not give us knowledge or teach us humility is his enemy. An ugly or very pretty wife is a man's enemy.
103. When we visit a place where Fire sacrifice is being performed, we should not go empty handed but carry Samith. Similarly when we visit a farm, home, temple, lady in a family way, senior citizens, Guru and King we should not go empty handed but should carry some fertilizer, something which is of use in the house, a plate of fruits, flowers, coconut, camphor etc., to the temple and food offering to others. Kuchela who took Aval (beaten rice) to see Krishna became rich.
104. Helping an extremely poor man, making arrangements for worship in temples for the persons who cannot afford it and cremation of an orphan corpse are equivalent to performance of Aswamedha.
105. While gargling or cleaning our teeth, we should not use the pointer finger. If we do, we will go to hell.
106. Till our daughter gets a child, we should not take food in our daughter's married home.
107. At the time of taking food, we should wash our hand and leg, perform Aachamana and eat food facing North.
108. We should not take food with single cloth, wet cloth, wearing silk, without chanting god's names, without putting marks on our forehead or with untied hair.
109. We should not eat the cooked rice for which Vaiswadevam has not been done or which is not offered to god. This applies even to food offered by our Guru.
110. Only after setting apart the rice meant for Vaiswadevam and offering it to God, we should start taking it.
111. Without doing Pranagni Hothram (manthras we say before taking food) you should not eat food. As soon as rice is served, we should hold the leaf with our hand.
112. We should do Aabochanam (taking a sip of water telling Manthras) only with water poured by others. When we are taking food in a group all people should do it together. No water should remain in our hand and we should not make any sound while taking that water.
113. After food is served, till Pranagni Hothram is complete we should not talk with anyone. It is better that we should not talk while taking food. But when we eat with a guest, we should talk to him and be hospitable. This does not go against the rule of being silent. During Aabochanam, when we take rice one by one, each should not be chewed by the teeth but should be swallowed.
114. We should take only that much rice in our hand, which will fill our mouth. We should take food in such a way that the food along with five fingers just enters the mouth. We should not take large quantity and then take it out and keep it on the leaf. If we keep it and take it again, it would be like a dog eating what it has vomited.
115. We should not sit in a row with lot of people and eat food. We should not eat facing others also. If you happen to sit in a row, we have to chant a mantra called Trisuparna. If you do not know it, chant names of god.
116. Every time we put a handful of food in our mouth, we have to say, "Govinda, Govinda". If we do this, it is as if we are observing fast.
117. While eating, we have to take one part of food, one part water and leave other part for air to be healthy.
118. Except while eating, we have to keep the water glass on our right. Water kept on the left, water drunk with left hand, water drunk while standing, drinking of remaining water after another one has drunk it, are equal to drinking toddy.
119. Serving food other than fried food, fruits and sweets, should not be served by hand or iron ladle or by left hand, it is equal to beef.
120. When people are eating in a row, if one man gets up, all the leaves would get tainted (Yechil). In emergency cases draw a line with water on both sides and get up. This makes you different from the row.
121. The water to be taken after food with Manthra "Amthuthabhidhanamasi" (Uthara Abochanam) should also be poured in our hands by somebody else. It can be immediately taken. There is no rule that all people should finish eating food together. Half the water has to be taken and the other half after taking it round the leaf should be poured below the leaf on the right side through the space in between thumb and first finger (Pithru Theertham).
122. The water poured from the tip of fingers is Deva Theertham, What is poured by the bottom of the hand is Brahma Theertham. What is poured to the left side by the middle of the palm is Rishi Theertham. What is poured in between the thumb and first finger is Pithru Theertham.
123. That Uchishta Theertham which we pour on the right side below the leaf after taking food, is supposed to quench the thirst of people in the rourava hell.
124. "Rourave apunye nilaye Padma arpudha nivaasinaam. Arthinaam udakam datham akshayyam upathishtathu" is the manthra that we have to tell when we pour the Uchishtya Theertham below the leaf.
125. When the cooked rice is brought, we have to say "asmakam nithyam asthu yethath" (let me get like this daily). When we finish and get up, we are supposed to say "Anna Datha Sukhi Bhava" (let him, who has given food, live happily).
126. Till we wash our hand after food and do Aachamana, another man who has not washed his hand is not supposed to touch us. If he does, both of us have to take bath. With hand used to take food, we are not supposed to take water in a vessel. Similarly suppose someone gives water with unwashed hand, we should not use it. We are supposed to give water for washing some one's hand only after we do Aachamana.
127. After food, after sitting and doing Aachamana, telling the following prayer if we wipe our eyes, the eye sight will never fade:
Charyathimcha, sukayamaacha, chyavanam sakram aswinou,
Bukthamathre smareth yasthu chakshu thasya na heeyathe.
If immediately after we do this recitation, we remember Charyatha and other sages, Sukanya, Chyavana, Indra and Aswini Devas, then our eye sight will never fade.
128. We should move our hands over our stomach saying the following Manthra, then all the food we have taken would be properly digested:
Agasthya, Agni, padapa analascha, buktham maya annam,
Jarayanthu asesham sukham chame thath parinama sambhavam.
Meaning: "Let Agasthya. fire god and Padapagni digest all the food that I have taken. Let my body be healthy."
129. Immediately after taking food, we have to walk one hundred steps. If we sit or lie down immediately after taking food, there would be diseases of the stomach. If we walk fast or run, our life span would reduce. We will have fear of Yama.
130. Before Uthrabochana, the housewife or those who serve food should enquire whether more food is required. If we do not do that, the blessings which we would get by giving food will vanish and also we will get sin. It is a practice to do like this to the Sradha Brahmin.
131. To the guest, after he eats the food, along with Thamboola, we should give at least a small Dakshina (cash present). Otherwise we would not get the good effect of feeding.
132. As soon as we see an elder, we have to stand and then salute him. For men, we have to chant "Abhivadaye" and then salute. Some people say "Chathusagara paryantham Gobrahmanebhya subham bhavathu (let good happen to all Brahmins for a width of four oceans) and then tell Abhivadaye. Some people do Namaskaram and then tell Abhivadaye. These should be done as per the practice of our family.
133. If we are permitted to touch the elder, then after saluting the elder, we should touch his feet by keeping our hand in a cross fashion. That is we should touch his right feet by our right hand and left feet by left hand. If we are not permitted to touch the elder after saluting him, we should do criss cross touching on floor in front of him.
134. Abhivaadaye, Bhargava, Chyaavana, Aapnavaana, Ourva, Jamadagnya, Pancharsheya pravaran vitha (Srivathsa Gothra) Aapasthambha suthra, Yajur veda shaakha adhyayi, Some deva sarmaa naamaham asmibho - This is a sample Abhivaadaye manthra, You have to fill it up with your Pravara, Gothra, Suthra, Veda and Name. You should not tell Pravaranvitha but Pravaraan Vitha.
135. Pravara saints are the important saints born in the family of Gothra sage. In some Gothras, there are 7 Pravara Rishis, in some 5, in some 3 and in some only one. Accordingly we have to say Saptha Rishaya (7) or Pancha Rishaya (5) orTrya Rishaya (3) or Yeka Rishaya (1). Abhivadahye means, I am introducing myself.
136. In the beginning, all gothras originated from 9 rishis and then they grew to hundreds. The rishi to whose clan we belong to is called Gothra Rishi. People having same gothra are referred to as Sagothra and people having the same rishi in their pravara are called Sapravara. We should not marry from our Gothra or our Pravara.
137. Asmi means, "I am as indicated". Bho is the form of address to elderly people.
138. There are many Suthras like Aasvalaayana, Kousheedhaka, Bodhayana, Bharadwaja, Sathyaashada, Vaikhanasa, Kathyayana, Drahyayana, Jaiminiya etc. Each of those sages have given the method of performing the rituals in a man's life. Those before death are termed as Poorva Prayoga and those after death are called Apara Prayoga.
139. The famous suthras are Aswalayana for Rig Veda, Bodhayana, Aapasthambha, Baradwaaja, Sathyaashaada and Vaikanasa for Krishna Yajurveda, Kathyayana for Shukla Yajurveda and Drahyayana and Jaimineeya for Sama Veda.
To be continued