The Sandhya water may be safely consumed. In fact the purpose is to take the smallest possible quantity, charge it with the power of the most highest name and then consume it so that it goes down your throat, right into your system. The little drop is one of the most sacred of foods, even better than the nectar(amrit) because apart from being the 'home' of our beloved Lord, it is also His creation and also carries His blessings. Therefore, you first invoke the sacred name "Om Achuthaya namaha" and then consume it. Not the other way if you look at it carefully. The name comes first. Water is one of the simplest and yet the most potent and ultimate elements insofar as humanity is concerned. And even modern science has also proved time and again that water is one of the key elements. Even now when the US sets out to explore remote planets, the first thing on their agenda is whether there are signs of water, which signifies the smallest possibility of life. Water (Apa) was recognised by our learned ancestors, the Rishis/Sages and therefore numerous scriptural references can be found praising Water. Right now one does not have any detail on these scriptural materials. Some of our learned members in this forum may be able to help out. Water in most of the Vedic works is considered as the purifying agent, alongwith agni which burns up impurities. However, unlike Agni which is Rajasic, water is not - perhaps this is why our Beloved Lord likes to float on Water !!!. Water is a cooling agent. If your mind, inner organs and humors, circulation is heated up or sluggish, nothing like a dose of cool water. Further, unlike the other 4 mahabhootas, fire,earth,space, ether, water is the one which can easily be accessed and safely consumed.It is the most tangible one. School geography and basic science texts say that over 70% of the earth is composed of water,and coincidentally,the same holds true to our body and contents of our blood also. Taking a sip is more beneficial for another reason also. Instead of a spoonful or a glass ful, a small drop has more power. When we look at the homeaopathic therapy, it is based on degree of dilutions called 'potency', the smaller the dilution percentage the higher the potency. Though not directly connected with this topic, just to give an idea of the power of a single drop, among the ancient Chinese torturn methods the most cruel one was to make the enemy lie down with hands/legs tied up and his neck/head made immobile by supports. A pan with cold water would be hung directly over the head at a height and water would drop in very small droplets at regular intervals over the forehead. Within an hour the victim would howl with unbearable pain and will eventually go raving mad and spit out all the secrets. If you really look deeply into the Sandhya practices, you will see that the crown is the 'Gayathri' japam However, the prelimineries are prescribed because one has to purify oneself both externally and internally. Externally one may take bath, but internally there is no other way other than by using water and breath. Both are non-invasive. While breath has a different role, water is the cleansing agent. Whether for cleaning your clothes, your body, your hair, the floorings in your house, the window pane, or the utensils and also for cooking from Alaska to Australia everywhere water is the only critical component. Its utility as an universal cleansing agent cannot be undermined. Therefore, water has been accorded a very high place in the Sandhya practices. The cool droplet is supposed to be sipped rather gulped and once it drops into your apana region it will quench the fire which is constantly raging in this region - the lower abdomen below the naval. This will enable you to perform the Sandhya, especially the Gayathri with total focus. Some other aspects on water :Water is everything (apo va idagum sarvam). You need water to bless (prokshanam), water to clean (apa upa sprushya), water to even curse (by throwing water after uttering the cursing words), water to cleanse internally (achamanam), water to be taken before eating food and food is considered as Brahma (Annam Brahma). Therefore, water has a great significance and the manner of usage of water is prescribed. The above is just a broad general gist of the importance of water. Om Tat Sat Tat tvam asi "Anand Iyengar" <anand2048@yahoo To: SriRangaSri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx .com> cc: Subject: [SriRangaSri] sandhyavandanam and ekadashi 08/31/04 05:16 AM Namaskaram Bhagvathars, Shri Vaishnavas, Honorable people, please guide me with knowledge on my concern. I regularly do nirjala ekadashi and sandhyavandanam. Every time on day of Ekadashi & Dwadashi I get this query in my mind of whether to sip water during sandhyavandanam ? Finally I end up doing achamanam but not sip the water. So please share with me the knowledge on performance of Sandhya vandanam on ekadashi & dwadashi days. Food on dashmi and dwadashi whether it is one full meal and fruits or do you have any suggestions/knowledge of right way ? I take one full meal on dashmi (noon) and fruits in the evening. I am happy and satisfied for today with past. I want to grow with right attitude and knowledge in snadhyavandanama, ekadashi performances. What does the vedic sampraday provides knowledge on following topics, please share with me. Your guidance is a blessing. With all respects Anand Yahoo! Groups Links ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/VkWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SriRangaSri/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: SriRangaSri-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia |
srirangasri-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To subscribe to the list |