It is from the Home Worship section. There is also a Temple Worship section.
Sipping Water for Purification (acamana)
Acamana, or sipping water, is a means of purification. As immersing the body in water brings about physical and subtle cleansing, so taking water infused with mantras into the body by sipping performs a similar function. Thus where purification is required but it is inconvenient to bathe, acamana is prescribed.
The general process of acamana is as follows: While looking into water cupped in your right hand, chant a mantra directed into that water and then sip the water.
A devotee should perform acamana to achieve physical and mental purity before performing spiritual activities such as applying tilaka, chanting Gayatri and japa, performing puja and homa, observing a vrata, taking prasada, reading or reciting sastra or mantras, and meditating.
The place where a devotee performs acamana should be pure—i.e., free from hair, bones, ash, or any other impure item.
The water should be cool, fresh, without bubbles or foul odor or taste, and untouched by fingernails, hair, or any impure item. Rainwater, being in the mode of passion, should not be used.
Out of respect for a spiritual activity, do not perform acamana with your head or throat covered; without having your kaupina or cloth tucked in at the back; without first cleaning your hands and feet; with shoes on; while standing; or while sitting on shoes or sitting with your knees or feet showing.
In the Home deity worship course I attended the mantras we were taught for Acamana were these:
om kesavaya namah
om narayanaya namah
om madhavaya namah
There is a common standard that is is usually not written down but I find that all devotee follow it.
That is, after each sip (for the contact of the mouth on the hand causes the hand to be inpure) apply one drop on that hand, the right hand, and toss it aside. Do this for each and every sip
Also it is common to find devotees to do 3 drops as well for each sip instead of 1, this seems to be an option. In a video of Srila Prabhupada performing a wedding (I believe it was Bali Mardana Prabhu) one can see Srila Prabhupada instructing the disciples to apply three drops per sip.
In the training course I attended for Home Deity Worship we were told the ideal is to not touch the mouth with the hand when we sip the drop of water. With practice it can be done. (lots of practice)
Thank You so much Abrennan
Thank You so much Abrennan and Nityananda Chandra prabhu for such elaborate alswers, you answered my question : ).
Haribol!
m4nj35h BaNaWaRa
Sipping Water for Purification (acamana)
This is from the web site of the Deity Worship Ministry
http://www.deityworship.com/home_worship/index.php
It is from the Home Worship section. There is also a Temple Worship section.
Sipping Water for Purification (acamana)
Acamana, or sipping water, is a means of purification. As immersing the body in water brings about physical and subtle cleansing, so taking water infused with mantras into the body by sipping performs a similar function. Thus where purification is required but it is inconvenient to bathe, acamana is prescribed.
The general process of acamana is as follows: While looking into water cupped in your right hand, chant a mantra directed into that water and then sip the water.
A devotee should perform acamana to achieve physical and mental purity before performing spiritual activities such as applying tilaka, chanting Gayatri and japa, performing puja and homa, observing a vrata, taking prasada, reading or reciting sastra or mantras, and meditating.
The place where a devotee performs acamana should be pure—i.e., free from hair, bones, ash, or any other impure item.
The water should be cool, fresh, without bubbles or foul odor or taste, and untouched by fingernails, hair, or any impure item. Rainwater, being in the mode of passion, should not be used.
Out of respect for a spiritual activity, do not perform acamana with your head or throat covered; without having your kaupina or cloth tucked in at the back; without first cleaning your hands and feet; with shoes on; while standing; or while sitting on shoes or sitting with your knees or feet showing.
In the Home deity worship course I attended the mantras we were taught for Acamana were these:
om kesavaya namah
om narayanaya namah
om madhavaya namah
One sip of water from the hand for each
Hare Krishna
________________________________________
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There is a common standard
There is a common standard that is is usually not written down but I find that all devotee follow it.
That is, after each sip (for the contact of the mouth on the hand causes the hand to be inpure) apply one drop on that hand, the right hand, and toss it aside. Do this for each and every sip
Also it is common to find devotees to do 3 drops as well for each sip instead of 1, this seems to be an option. In a video of Srila Prabhupada performing a wedding (I believe it was Bali Mardana Prabhu) one can see Srila Prabhupada instructing the disciples to apply three drops per sip.
Hare Krishna;)
Correct
Once the hand makes contact with the mouth, it becomes muci. In order to make it suci, we must rinse after every sip.
In the training I attended
In the training course I attended for Home Deity Worship we were told the ideal is to not touch the mouth with the hand when we sip the drop of water. With practice it can be done. (lots of practice)
________________________________________
Visit the Food Channel @ Krishna.com