Can a Srivaishnava household have conch (Shankam)? If so, what is the procedure for aradhanam? If not allowed, how should the conch be utilized?
Vidwan’s reply
Srivaishnava households can have conch at home. No need to perform a separate aradhanam for the conch. If we had purchased a valampuri shanku, it must be kept clean and can be used for tirumanjanam during Perumal Tiruvaradhanam.
Some households would have specially consecrated Shankam, Chakram, Sudarshana Panchajanya for which specific rules are applicable for daily aradhanam.
Both our parents have attained Paramapadam. Our elder brother was performing their rites. As he has attained Paramapadam, can we sisters perform annual shraddham for our parents? As our late elder brother was a bachelor, as his siblings, are we allowed to perform his shraddham? For a spinster/unmarried woman who does not have parents, who are allowed to perform her last rites?
Vidwan’s reply
As your elder brother has attained Paramapadam, there is nothing that you can do for your parents; he was the kartA. The performance of rites ends with him and no shraddham need to be performed.
As your elder brother have no other relations who can perform his shraddham, as his siblings you can perform shraddham; qualified males can perform the shraddham by accepting kaippul (darbha grass) from the sisters (females).
For a spinster without parents, last rites can be performed by her siblings. If none are available, others can perform her rites.
Adiyen belongs to the Sama Veda branch. Based on Yajur Vedic method have learned Acchidram and Kaatakam. Currently learning Arunam. Have also started learning Sama Veda. As I am 62 years old, find it difficult to learn Sama Veda. Can adiyen continue to learn Yajur Veda? Can adiyen recite Yajur Veda?
Vidwan’s reply
There is no issue because it is difficult to do Sama Veda adhyayanam due to advanced age. Recite the Yajur Veda portions learned so far.
Only after completing the Sama Veda lessons, one can complete adhyayanam of Yajur Veda. Hence, one can recite the portions that are fit to be recited.
Should the males perform achamanam after taking bath, wearing the appropriate dress, and adorning Thiruman? Or must achanaman be performed after wearing the dress and before adoring Thiruman?
Vidwan’s reply
While wearing the traditional attire, one must have the sacred thread (Yagnopavitam/Poonal) around one’s ear. After wearing the dress, one performs achamanam after washing hands and legs which is followed by adorning of Thiruman.
Thiruman must not be adorned while the sacred thread is around one’s ear. Because sacred thread can be worn only after washing hands and legs, immediately after wearing the attire, one must wash hands and legs, wear the sacred thread properly, perform achanaman, and only after these must adorn Thiruman.
Can Tulasi plant be watered on Ekadasi? One of adiyen’s friends said as Tulasi also fasts on Ekadasi, we must not water Tulasi on Ekadasi. kindly clarify this.
Vidwan’s reply
Tulasi can be watered on Ekadasi day.
Notes:
The message that Tulasi plant must not be watered on Ekadasi day as Tulasi is believed to fast can be found in certain Puranas that are followed to fulfill desires (kAmyam).
As far as we are concerned, as Tulasi is used for Perumal Tiruvaradhanam, we need not follow the practices of those who do karmas to satisfy their desires.
In a given year, during which months and days of week one must not shave? At present based on adiyen’s limited knowledge, adiyen does not shave on Tuesdays and Fridays along with Amavasyai, Paurnami, Ekadasi, Dwadasi days; adiyen also does not shave during the entire paksham (half of the month) on which adiyen’s parents shraddham occurs.
Vidwan’s reply
The Questioner himself has listed certain days on which one must not shave. Looking at this in its entirety:
Months:
The four months of Adi, Margazhi, Maci and Purattasi. During entire month of Purattasi one must avoid shaving
One can shave during the first half of the month of Adi and must not shave during the second half
It is said that one must not shave during the first half of Margazhi and Maci; shaving is allowed during second half of these months.
Days:
Shaving must be avoided on Tuesday, Fridays and Saturdays
As Fridays are not suitable for one’s mother, some with no mothers will shave on Fridays.
Tithi:
One must not shave on Pitru tithis – Krishna paksha Ashtami, Krishna paksha Caturdasi, Amavasyai, Paurnami. Generally people avoid shaving on Chaturthis. All Sashti tithis must be avoided.
Nakshatrams:
One must not shave on Bharani and Krithikkai as these starts are considered auspicious (Mangalam). A few do not shave on their birth stars.
Mondays and Wednesdays are days when one can shave even when these days are afflicted with certain shortcomings or defects.
Traditionally we do not use plantain-related products during dwadasi; but if tarpanam due to a new month (masa pravesam) or new moon (amavasyai) occurs during dwadasi, can we then use raw banana (Vaazhai kaai)? Kindly clarify.
Vidwan’s reply
During dwadasi it is not in practice to use banana or any plantain-based product even when a new month occurs during dwadasi.
A few make exemptions in using raw banana during an occurrence of a new month even on a dwadasi.
How should males do Acamana? What are the rules that are to be followed while doing Acamana?
Vidwan’s reply
Before doing Acamana one has to wash the hand and feet and then be seated in kukkutasana (a particular ascetic posture for religious practices) posture facing east or north. One should take a little water in the palm and chant acutAya namaH, anantAya namaH, etc., and sip the water (prAshanam). These are the important observances. After doing this thrice, one must wipe the mouth and wash the hand clean. These details can be read in Ahnika grantham-s.
There are many occasions during which one must do Acamana. This should be done as a component of any karma during the beginning, middle, and end. One has to do acamana before partaking food and after having food. After attending to a nature’s call (shanka nivrutti), one has to wash hands, feet and mouth immediately after and perform acamana. There are instances when acamana has to be done as a component of relevant karma-s as stated. It is been said, even while going to a temple one has to do acamana to ensure one’s purity. If possible one can observe them.
Can a Prappanna pray to Emperuman for benefits on behalf of someone who had not rendered Prapatti?
Vidwan’s reply
One who is resolute and has absolute faith, will not resort in seeking material benefits from Emperuman; but it is not wrong to pray as such if one feels a need.
What is Gothram? Does it apply to all varanasrama? Can we find out the varnasrama through gothram?
Vidwan’s reply
Gothram refers to a lineage in which one is born. When we say son, grandson, great-grandson, etc., we cannot specify more beyond a certain generation; we resort to saying that we belong to a particular gothram which means we belong to that lineage. Vyakhyana sastram provided details on this topic. Gothram refers to the relevant sage’s lineage to which we belongs-to.
All castes/orders have gothram; but they cannot be ascertained through a gothram. Varnam means caste, asrama refers to whether a person is a bachelor, household man or saint, etc. Brahmins belong to certain gothrams and we can ascertain some details based on the gothram.
We cannot pinpoint those who belong to a gothram or not because many belong to a gothram. Asrama refers to the order one lives example family, ascetic, anchorite, hermit, etc.
Can we get the English version of the book on Asaucha published by you?
Vidwan’s reply
We are trying to publish it in English as well. Details will be posted soon.
In what order should the following Prabandha and sloka-s listed below are recited during Thiruvaradhanam?
Thiruppallandu, Thiruppalliezhuchi, Thiruppavai, Amalanadipiran, Kanninunchiruthambu, irAmAnusa nuTTrandAdhi, Nyasa Dashakam, Adaikkalpatthu, PillaiandAdhi, Acarya thanians.
Vidwan’s reply
Though it is stated that one has to recite Thiruppallandu, Thiruppalliezhuchi, Thiruppavai, Amalanadipiran, Kanninunchiruthambu, irAmAnusa nuTTrandAdhi, Nyasa Dashakam, Adaikkalpatthu, PillaiandAdhi, Acarya thanians during Thiruvaradhanam, these days no one recites all of these.
I have padhukas graced by my divine Acharya. Kindly explain details of daily aradhanam them. Should I carry them while I am traveling?
Vidwan’s reply
You can do thirumanjanam for the Padhuka after sankalpam and offer fruits, it is not a must that you should do this every day. It can be done on special occasions.
It is considered special when one does Padhuka aradhanam every day as per the tradition of Srimad Andavan.
It is not stipulated that Padhukas had to be carried during travel. If a thirunakshatram of Acarya coincides with travel, then Padhukas can be carried along. It should be carried with utmost reverence like how Perumal is carried. Maintaining purity is important while carrying Padhukas.
Can Sri Vaishnavas perform Bhishma tharpanam during Bhishmashtami as some of the siblings of my father-in-law follow that practice?
Vidwan’s reply
No, there is no need for Srivaishnavas to perform Bhismatharpanam because they are benefit-centric (kAmyArtha).
Adiyen has a doubt with regards to asaucam related to births and deaths. Dasharathri jnathas are those from a current-generation plus 6 generations before (for a total of 7 generations); Trirathri jnathas are those from 7 generations after the current generation. For dasharathri jnathas the asaucam period is 10 days and for trirathri janathas it is 3 days. Is this correct? Kindly clarify.
Vidwan’s reply
Those from 7 generations are dasharathri jnathas and those from 3 generations are trirathri jnathas. The questioner has correctly specified that 10 days asaucam for dasarathri janathas and 3 days asaucam for trirathri jnathas. But they differ when it comes to births and deaths. The details can be found in GSPK Sudarshanam’s “Theetthu Vivarangal” publication.
Can we perform Perumal thiruvaradhanam with the help of a book or should we learn them through Acarya or relevant learned people?
Vidwan’s reply
It is not appropriate to perform Perumal thiruvaradhanam with the help of a book as there are mantras that must be chanted during thiruvaradhanam. Mantras should be obtained properly from an Acarya as upadesam and you can then begin thiruvaradhanam with the guidance of elders.
What is the proper time to do thiruvaradhanam in the mornings? If we could not do it in the morning, can it be done in the evening?
Vidwan’s reply
Thiruvaradhanam should be done during the third part of daytime; that is, after abhigamana and upAdAna kAlam. The daytime period between morning 6 am and evening 6 pm is divided into five parts and thiruvaradhanam should be performed during the third part called Ijya.
If thiruvaradhanam could not be done during Ijya kalam, it can be done before ijya and if that is still not possible, it can be performed in the evening.
But one should not perform it regularly in the evenings; it is allowed only as an exception when one could not do morning thiruvaradhanam due to unavoidable circumstances.
Can prapannas partake the laddu prasadham that is offered at the counters of Thirumala Thirupathi?
Vidwan’s reply
Since laddu is considered as a prasadham of Perumal, it can be accepted but if you follow strict acaram, then laddus from the counters are not up to the standards of orthodoxy as it changes many hands and also it is packed in plastic cover. If you consider it as a prasadham you can partake it or if you want to adhere to acaram you can avoid it.
While one wants to do prapatti, should that person need to follow proper conduct like maintaining purity (madi and acaram)? As adiyen is aware that prapatti can be done at any time or place; Draupadi was in a different position when she rendered prapatti; so does that mean prapatti does not require complete acaram?
Vidwan’s reply
Madi, acaram are not required components of prapatti; but one should not do it without taking bath or when they are tainted with theetu; only under exceptional circumstances one can do so.
As this is a religious ceremony, one should cleanse properly, wear proper attire, and adorn twelve thirumann to perform prapatti.
Though it can be performed with theetu, does not imply it should be done with theetu.
Which dal can be used during dwadasi, is it toor dal or moong dal?
Vidwan’s reply
Mostly toordal is cooked during dwadasi specially for Perumal. Moong dal can also be included.
Some say toordal should not be used and only moong dal should be used but elders use both on dwadasi.
During what occasions should we change the sacred thread and during which theetu should one change the sacred thread?
Vidwan’s reply
We should change the sacred thread under these circumstances
If the sacred thread is unclean
When it gets cut
If one eats food while observing theetu
What is the importance of wearing madi vastram and urdhva pundram while performing religious austerity like thiruvaradhanam?
Vidwan’s reply
Thiruvaradhanam is a special austerity, unlike the regular rituals. While performing thiruvaradhanam we have to touch Emperuman’s deity; so, we should be clean and hygienic.
It becomes an offense if we touch Emperuman when we are not pure; so, we should wear clean clothes and urudhva pundram grants us purity. Hence, we should wear madi vastram and urudva pundram while doing thiruvaradhanam.
If samashrayanam is performed through one Acarya and bharanyasam through another Acarya of the same mutt, then whom should we consider as our Acarya? Please clarify.
Vidwan’s reply
Even if samashrayanam and bharanyasam are performed by different Acarya-s both are considered as Acarya-s. There is no restriction that one must have only one Acarya. Bhagavad Ramanuja had five Acarya-s.
So, one should worship all the Acarya-s, and recite their thanian-s.
Adiyen’s parents attained paramapadam one after the other in the same year. My elder brother had undergone an operation for heart disease which resulted in mental stress; his behavior had turned out for the worst which has caused distress to my sister-in-law. Is there a remedy for this? What sloka can we chant as an atonement to mitigate miseries?
Vidwan’s reply
Kamasikashtakam can be chanted for his wellness and reciting this will provide release from all difficulties as this stotram is solely for taking refuge unto Emperuman.
Adiyen had performed samashrayanam and bharanyasam under 45th Azhagiyasingar. Adiyen is yet to get an opportunity to do Rahasyatrayasaram kalakshepam properly. Is this an obstacle? As I have to travel to the United States frequently to take care of my grandson, due to the time difference I could not participate through the internet; but I perform the daily and regular (nitya and naimittika karmas) rituals without fail and recite slokas to my ability. Is attending kalakshepam a must?
Vidwan’s reply
Learning Srimad Rahasytrayasaram through kalakshepam is beneficial, one can get to experience Emperuman but not undergoing this kalakshepam does not result in sin or obstacle. It is fortunate if one gets to do kalakshepam; else, we lose an opportunity.
For example, Srimad Rahasyatrayasara kalakshepam is like someone gifting us Rs. 50 lakhs; if we refuse the gift there is nothing wrong but we are a loser in refusing the gift.
So, if we do not undergo kalakshepam it is a loss, but it does not result in sin. It is our choice. It is laudable that you practice the daily austerities and recite slokas.
One who after upanayanam, having undergone samashrayanam, if they do not perform trikaala sandhyavandanam, will one get the benefit of having done prapatti through an Acarya? Is trikaala sandhyavandanam a must for prapatti? It is said that one who does not perform sandhyavandanam is not qualified to perform rituals ordained by the Vedas. Is the rule applicable for prappatti?
Vidwan’s reply
Even when one does not perform sandhyavandanam, one will get the benefits of performing prapatti. These are not related. It is a general rule that one must perform sandhyavandanam whether one has or has not undergone samashrayanam and bharanyasam.
Not performing sandhyavandanam will beget sin and will lose the qualification to perform other karmAs.
Notes:
For example, what if one who has performed sharanagati decides to lie? If they ask “Does lying beget sin?” It is a fundamental rule that one must not lie; no doubt lying will certainly beget sin.
Similarly, performance of sandhyavandanam is mandatory; this will not impact sharanagati in any way. Both are independent of each other.
Can we offer (vermicelli) semiya thirukannamadhu to Perumal?
Vidwan’s reply
No, elders do not use vermicelli.
Can adiyen do Perumal thiruvaradhanam after returning home from the temple? Or should adiyen do so only after taking a bath? Or should thiruvaradhanam be done before going to the temple?
Vidwan’s reply
It is stated that taking bath after returning from a temple is considered a sin. At the same time, a bath should be taken as part of certain rituals.
For example, one must take bath for performing tharpanam; here temple visit does not get prominence, unlike bathing which is a part of the ritual. As part of the daily thiruvaradhanam before doing madhyanikam, one must take bath as a component of the ritual. So utmost caution should be exercised on such matters and some go to the temple only after completing thiruvaradhanam and other austerities.
Can we chant Acarya thanian and dwayam mentally during asauca period?
Vidwan’s reply
One can recite the thirunamam of Acaryan and Perumal both mentally or vocally as there is no restriction in chanting the holy names rather than a mental recitation of Acaryan thanian and dwaya mantram during asaucam.
Adiyen had come to know that when a brahmin boy weds a girl of another caste the boy loses his status as a brahmin to the extent that he becomes unfit to perform sandhyavandanam; but in the previous Sudarshanam issue it has been said that the girl can do bharanyasam; so does this mean the boy still has the right to do rituals ordained by sastram?
Vidwan’s reply
When the boy is a kartha for the rituals, he has to perform them even though he has married a girl of a different caste. Though he could not perform the rituals applicable to a brahmin but that is applicable to others.
Bharanyasam is not caste centric; anyone can perform it irrespective of caste or creed.
Can we recite the stotram in a fast pace? Can we recite the phalasruthi alone? Is it appropriate to recite the first stanza aloud and the second stanza of a stotram mentally like how we recite in a group? Is it not wrong to recite the first part of a long storam aloud and recite the second half mentally? Does this accrue the required fruits?
Vidwan’s reply
It is not worthy to recite the phalashruthi of a stotram alone as phalashruthi mentions the benefits of reciting a complete stotram. Reciting that alone will not yield the benefit of reciting the stotram in its entirety. Hence one must recite the whole stotram. If it is not possible, it has to be recited along with the dhyana slokam though it is not considered equal to reciting the whole stotram.
There are two methods of reciting stotram; one on our own and the other as a group recitation. While we recite on our own, we recite the entire stotram individually. In a group, it is a custom that one group would recite the first half and the other group recites the second half so that the stotram is complete. It is enough that we listen while others are reciting.
While we are reciting on our own, we must recite the whole stotram aloud. If we recite for a particular fruit, then reciting in a group is not taken into account. We should recite aloud the entire stotram. Otherwise, if we want to experience Bhagavan or if we feel reciting stotrams is for the pleasure of Emperuman it is enough that we just listen to group recitation.
What should be done with the balance sesame seeds after tharpanam? Can we store and reuse it again? Some say the balance seed should not be used and it should be added to the bhugnam.
Vidwan’s reply
No, the balance sesame seeds should not be retained. Tharpana prayogam instructs on what to do with the remaining seeds and darbha grass; there is a sloka that has to be chanted for the balance seeds and darbham; one has to chant the sloka and offer the balance sesame seeds and darbham accordingly.
