Can the madi vastram hung out for dry be removed from the clothesline by wearing a plastic cover? Or must they be removed only with a wooden stick? Does removing them with a plastic cover make them tainted? Pardon my ignorance.
Vidwan’s reply
It is a practice to remove the clothes only with a wooden stick or cane. Plastic is a modern-day material. During occasions such as a shraddham when one must stay pure, we do not touch plastic.
Some remove the vastram with a woollen blanket. Removing clothes with plastic covers does not meet the requirements of orthodox practices of the elders and they have never attempted such practices.
Adiyen’s father does amavasyai tharppanam. My mother says that I should not take a head bath on those days. Adiyen does laghu Paduka Tiruvaradhanam every day. On days such as amavasyai, I am at a loss on how to perform Tiruvaradhanam without taking a head bath; kindly clarify.
Vidwan’s reply
Among the orthodoxies of a certain group of people, those whose fathers are alive, must not take a head bath on amvasayai; in particular, this practice is prevalent in the southern parts.
Those who perform daily Tiruvaradhanam will take a head bath every day. There is no harm in doing so on amavasyai as well. Tiruvaradhanam must be performed only after taking a head bath.
Through the previous issue of Sudarshanam, adiyen got clarification for one of my question on whether one should adhere to the requirements of madi while performing prapatti. Swami has also said that we should try to maintain the madi to the extent possible and try to avoid being impure if it can be avoided. Adiyen’s bharanyasam was performed by prakrutam Azhagiyashingar. Based on the clarification provided by the Vidwan, I understood that the vastram that adiyen wore on that day was tainted. This has caused mental anxiety; will this accrue any sin?
Vidwan’s reply
On the day when you performed bharanyasam, if you had intentionally worn tainted clothes, it is a sin. If done unintentionally, there is no harm. There is no relationship between this and bharanyasam.
In general, while prostrating elders, in particular Acaryas, one must maintain purity.
If the deed was done intentionally, it is sinful; the only atonement is to seek forgiveness from Perumal.
Adiyen’s bharanyasam Acaryan was Tirukkudantai Andavan. For a long time, the Pradosham puja at our village temple was sponsored by our household elders. We have relocated to Chennai. Can we continue to sponsor the kainkaryam at the village temple? Is it wrong just supporting financial from afar? Or must we go physically to the temple on Pradosham?
Vidwan’s reply
If the Prodasham puja is for Nrusimha, certainly it must be continued. It is good if you could go in person to the village. Else, you can sponsor materials for Nrusimha tirumanjanam. Whenever it is possible to visit on the day of Pradosham, do so.
If you are sponsoring at other temples for other demi-gods, you need not continue that. There is no harm if you don’t continue.
For those of us who reside abroad, we are unable to follow Srirangam panchangam, etc. We follow online-based panchangams on the internet. Hence, pray let us know when Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi occurs.
Is Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi on Vaikaci Shukla paksha Trayodasi or Caturdasi?
For Tiruvaradhanam of the incarnation period, should the tithi be based on sunrise or sunset?
It is stipulated that at least 6 nazhigai-s the tithi (whether based on sunrise or sunset) must exist. If not, for us to perform the Tiruvaradhanam the next day, which dosham must we consider?
Vidwan’s reply
Sri Nrisimha Jayanthi occurs during the Vaisakha month. Vaisakha month is the 30-day period after Citthirai amavasyai till Vaikaci amavasyai. Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi tithi is Shukla paksha Caturdasi tithi.
If Trayodasi is associated 6 nazhigai-s with Caturdasi, even if Caturdasi exists for the rest of the day, it is considered tainted and Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi is not celebrated on that day and must be celebrated only on the following day. The apt period for Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi is when there is no association of 6 nazhigai Trayodasi with Caturdasi.
The following day, Caturdasi must be present at least during the sunrise. Only then Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi can be celebrated on that day. As per another way to determine Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi, when Catudasi is not present during sunrise on the following day, and even when Caturdasi is associated with Trayodasi during the previous day, then there is no option but to celebrate Sri Nrusimha Jayanthi the previous day itself.
We are trying to sell our flat. Is there any shloka for recitation to ensure the process goes through without any obstacles?
Vidwan’s reply
It is mentioned in the phala shruti of Sudarshanashtakam that it can ensure that even difficult deeds are achieved successfully. Hence, recite Sudarshanashtakam regularly.
Adiyen is hearing impaired. To rectify this, what sholakam should I chant as a prayer to Emperuman?
Vidwan’s reply
It appears that Hayagriva Stotram can be recited to rectify hearing impair related issues – because even Swami Desikan himself has said that to hear words and to understand their meanings, one must recite Hayagriva Stotram, “vAgartha siddhi hEtoH”.
Adiyen has to eat lunch at the office which contains Onion and Garlic. The travel to and from the office takes long hours to commute. Having eaten food with onion and garlic, can I recite Sahasranamam during the travel back home? Once back at home, is it enough to wash hands and legs and rinse mouth before doing sandhyavandanam?
Vidwan’s reply
Onion and garlic must never be included in the food. These are prohibited food items. There are no excuses to include them in your food. These two cause extremely adverse effects in one. Both must be avoided; this is the correct response to your query.
Many thanks for responding to adiyen’s query (Q28CHIT21006) on shaving. I have a confusion: Initially, it was explained that shaving must not be done during the months of Adi, Margahzi, and Maci; but later it was said that shaving can be done during the first half of Adi and the second halves of Margazhi and Maci; further, there was no mention about Sundays. Kindly clarify my confusion.
Vidwan’s reply
Shaving must not be done during the months of Adi, Purattasi, Margazhi and Maci.
According to a statement – ‘danush kumbhau’, that is shaving can be done during the second halves of Margazhi and Maci and the first half of Adi.
There is also a statement that says one must not shave during the entire month of Purattasi.
If these cannot be adhered to, it is still a practice of the elders to include the statements above in their anusthanam. No need to get confused. Always the scriptures will show alternate ways in case one is not able to follow a prescribed method.
Shaving can be done on Sundays as long as any tainted tithi and star are not associated with that Sunday.
Notes:
If possible, it is preferred not to shave during the months of Adi, Purattasi, Margazhi, and Maci.
Some might not be able to follow this; for those people, as an alternative, they can shave during the first halves of Margazhi and Maci and the second half of Adi.
While in the middle of Tiruvaradhanam, or tharppanam or sandhyavandanam, when there is a need to urinate, what must one do? Must one bathe again before continuing? Kindly clarify.
Vidwan’s reply
We know that while performing Tiruvaradhanam or tharppanam or sandhyavandanam, one must not have the urge to urinate. All of these should have been taken care of before starting. Very elderly people, will not be able to contain the urge due to their advanced age. If they happen to go for urination during these, they will have no choice other than to bathe again. If that is not possible, at least they must perform mantra snanam and start right from the beginning instead of continuing from where they left off.
Usually, people will be very careful during Tiruvaradhanam. If one happens to go for urination in the middle of a Tiruvaradhanam, one bath again and commence the Tiruvaradhanam right from the beginning. Else, one can get one’s son to perform the Tiruvaradhanam. When it is not possible to a complete bath, one can perform mantra snanam.
All these considerations apply only to very elderly people and not those who are of robust health. One must complete all the ablutions before Tiruvaradhanam, sandhyavandanam, etc. There must be no compromise in this.
During Tiruvaradhanam, should the Ramayana and Bhagavatam slokas be recited during alankarasnanam or during paryankasnanam? Should we need to recite Bhagavatam moolam parayanam after Tiruvaradhanam? Kindly clarify.
Vidwan’s reply
Whether to recite Srimad Ramayanam, Srimad Bhagavatam during alankara asanam or paryanka asanam, is done as per one’s convenience.
In alankara asanam, after offering dhoopam and deepam to Perumal, there is a part where slokas can be recited. Or in Paryanka asanam, after kapoora harathi, a period for sloka recitation is available. Either of these periods is used for reciting Ramayana and Bhavatam slokas, based on one’s convenience.
Slokas can also be recited after offering parasadam to Perumal during Paryanka asanam.
It is not a must for Bhagavatam moolam parayanam after Tiruvaradhanam.
Notes:
Not sure what is the basis for this query – Bhagavatam moolam parayanam can be done after Tiruvaradhanam.
As per the rules of anusthanams, before taking bath one must wear appropriate clothing (snanasaadi), perform sankalpam, etc. Considering the materialistic duties, it is not possible to do this elaborately due to lack of time. Hence, requesting to share a simpler way of following snana sankalpam. Which clothes (Snanasaadi) can be worn for bathing? As an example, can we use an angavastram of a torn dhoti?
Vidwan’s reply
The simpler or shorter form of snana sankalpam would be “Karmanyataa siddhyartham praatasnanam aham karishye”. But it is a practice to recite mahaa sankalpam for bathing. Having mentioned the tithi, day (vaaram), name of the year, month, one must recite “vishnoraagyaa pravarttamaanasya aadya bhramanaH” and begin the bathing. There is no maha sankalpam for sandhyavandanam, Tiruvaradhanam, etc. Hence, maha sankalpam must be performed at the start of the day during bathing.
The cloth that we wear while taking bath is called snanasaadi. Snanasaadi clothes are sold in shops. One can buy one of those. If not, there is no harm in using old dhoti, angavastram, etc. But after having used that old vastram as a snanasaadi vastram, they must not be used as an upper garment (uttariyam). snanasaadi is a lower body garment. Uttariyam is an upper-body garment used for japam. An old uttariyam can be used as a snanasaadi, but it must not be used as an uttariyam again.
Adiyen can understand the rule that like Gayatri japam, one must perform Ashtakshara japam thrice daily. Can we do japam for any number of counts like Gayatri japam? Disciples of Ahobila Mutt have a practice of reciting Acarya taniyans, Dvaya mantram, Carama sloka, and Ashtaksharam daily. Based on the response to a query in the previous issue of Sudarsanam, understood that it is enough to chant Ashtakshara mantram only during sandhyavandanam. Is my understanding correct? Should we not chant Ashtakshara mantra during other times? Many Acaryas and vidwans have spoken extensively about Ashtakshara mantram. Have read long ago in Nrusimha Priya that the 45th Srimad Azhagiya Shingar while at Badrinath, had performed Ashtakshara japam. Ladies are not qualified to perform sandhyavandanam. If Ashtakshara japam is allowed only during sandhyavandanam, how can the women do Ashtakshara japam? What other mantras would the saints of the past performed their japams on besides the Ashtakshara mantra?
Vidwan’s reply
Tiruvashtakshara japam is done during sandhyavandanam. It can also be done during various other special occasions as well. Women do Tiruvashtakshara japan instead of sandhyavandanam. The details can be found in the previous issues of Sudarsanam.
Saints have several other mantras, including many Veda mantras, other than Tiruvashtakshara mantram for the penance. Veda parayanam itself is knows as a japam as per a Vedic statement. The Rishis through their constant recitation of Veda mantras have safeguarded the Vedas for us. There is no separate book for the Vedas. Only through the japam of the Rishis, we have obtained Rig, Yajur, and Sama Vedas; they used to wander around forests continuously chanting the Vedic mantras; such kinds of practices have ensured we have access to the Vedas.
What is the difference between the Kaivalyaarthis and the Mumukshus? Where will the Kaivalyaarthis go to? Kindly explain in detail.
Vidwan’s reply
Kaivalyaarthis are those who desire Jivatma anubhavam after their life ends. There is a separate world for them. They will reach that world and experience the Jivatma . But even that world will be destroyed during pralayam (dissolution).
Mumukshus are those who desire Paramatma anubhavam. They attain Moksha and reach Sri Vaikuntham. There they attain the supreme bliss of enjoying Perumal (Bhagavad anubaham) and will be with eternal happiness.
Usually, the Salagrama stone is black in color. I do tirumanjanam daily. A few years ago my mother gave me a Salagrama stone that was white in color and which belonged to her mother. She told not to do tirumanjanam for that Salagrama (now my mother is not alive). I do not know much about this topic. Kindly explain.
Vidwan’s reply
Salagrama murtis can be found in white colors and can be found in a few homes. Adiyen does not understand why you were asked not to perform tirumanjanam for the white-coloured Salagram. Looks like one can perform tirumanjanam for white Salagrama as well.
For Upanayanams and Seemanthams, it is stipulated that one must not eat until the muhurtha kalam is over. What is the rationale behind this?
Vidwan’s reply
Naandi Shraddham is an integral part of Upanayanam and Seemantham. This is an auspicious ritual. In this, prayers are offered to the ancestors and a few Brahmins are rewarded through offerings and this ritual is overseen by the family priest.
They would have said that one should not partake until the completion of the special Naandi Shraddham.
It is unclear how many follow this practice these present days. But one must understand there is a reason why one is asked not to eat before the conclusion of the ritual.
