Sri Guru Charitra - By Shri S.N.Huddar

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Chapter XXXVI - Code of Brahmin's Daily Rituals A Brahmachari and a Grahastha should recite Gayatri Mantra 108 times daily. A Vanprastha, Yati or a Sanyasi should recite it 1000 (thousand) times. In case of difficulty one may recite it at least 10 times a daily.

Recitation in the mind is the best. Whispering in mouth is medium and loud recitation is worst. While reciting, with a wreath, do not transgress the menu or the head bead. If it is transgressed 3 pranayams should be observed. Reciting Gayatri a crore time fulfills all desires. After jap, upsthan (prayer) should be recited while standing. Bow to ten dishas (directions), Gods, Brahmin, Guru, pronounce one's Gotra and birth name and end the ritual of Sandhya. The home should be swept daily land kept clean. The earthen floor should smeared with cow dung and

water. Rangoli (stonepowder) designs should be drawn in the courtyard and before the shrines of worship. A Grahastha should keep a cow, a Shaligram, (soft black round stone as Vishnu), Gauya and Grihyagni at home. A Brahmin should perform Sandhya daily and should also worship gods daily. One who does not worship gods is like a beast. In the morning the worship should be done with 16 upchars and in the night, light of ghee (Aarti) should be waved before the shrines. Yama punishes those who do not worship gods. The eight places or objects of worship are as follows. The Shrine of gods, the Sthandil (earthen elevated construction for fire of sacrifice), the Agni (Fire), the Sun, the water, the heart, the Brahmin and the Sadguru. The Brahmin males should worship gods with Veda mantras, while the females

and Shudras should worship with Purana mantras. Flowers brought from trees in the forest are of medium value. Those purchased are worst. The flowers grown by one self in one's house garden are the best. Flowers eaten by worms and having holes should not be used. Shri Durga should not be offered' `durva' (a kind grass), Kevada should not be offered to Shri Shiva, Tulsi should not be offered to Shri Ganesh and flowers of Dhotra and Rui should not be offered to Shri Vishnu. Keep the pot of water at the left hand all the articles of worship at the right hand. 16 iuchars of worship should be observed devotedly with panchamrit (mixture of milk, curds, ghee, honey and sugar). Shankh (Conch) should be kept on the left and Ghanta (bell) on the right hand. After bowing to gods, do achman and the Sankalpa (pronunciation of desire of worship mentioning the time, year, ayan, ritu, month, paksh (fortnight, dark or bright) tithi (particular day of a month), Nakshatra (star), places of various planets on the day and purpose or desire of worship. Then start ordinary bath with water, panchamrit, abhishek (pouring water) chanting Purush Sukta, Vishnu Sukta, Shri Sukta, Lakshmi Sukta, Rudra Sukta, Pavaman Sukta, etc. (as per devotion all or particular Sukta or Suktas may be selected for Abhishek.) After Abhishek, dry the shrines with a piece of cloth and place them at their places and offer clothes, ornaments, Gandha, Halad, Kumkum, flowers or wreaths, Tulsi, bel leaves saying, `give me shelter, protect me.' Withered followers taken out of the shrines should be touched, to one's head and nose and kept aside to be immersed in the river or rivulet. The bhasma scented sticks be applied to forehead and the Tirth (holy water of bath of gods) should be drunk. For purification of food and wiping off 5 great sins, one should do waishwadeo in the morning and in the evening before meals. Homa in the morning is a sacrifice for god. Bali is given for the

ghosts, and Tarpan is the sacrifice for forefathers. At the time of dinner, one should wait for a guest. If a guest comes, give him food. If he is a Yati, give him food and water also. Before taking meals wash your feet, hands and the mouth. If an unknown person dines with you, offer him food at a distance. There should not be distinction of food for persons dining at a time. After four Chitrahutis take five Pranahutis. Observe `moun' during meals or at least up to Pranahutis. Do not leave things in plate except little for your wife. There should be no noise while taking water or liquid articles. If while dining the lamp goes off, then stop taking food till the lamp is replaced. While dining do not see and hear the words of females in monthly course, do not touch each other when dining.

If gases pass, if the food contains worms or if there is vomiting, then stop dining. If hair is found, it should be put off and the food should be sprinkled with Tirth. If onion and garlic are taken one is deprived of Brahmanism. `Satwic' food increases knowledge, while `Tamas' food increases ignorance. While dining, first take liquid articles and then take others. Last `aposhan' should be half taken and half should be poured down. Wash your mouth with the forefinger. For purification of mouth and fingers, two achmans should be taken. After dinner, take pan and hear Purana. Evening Sandhya etc. And meals should be taken as in the midday. It would be better if articles prepared with milk were taken in the night. Do the professional work during the day. "Sour Path" should not be chanted after sunset. Before going to bed bow to the God and dedicate all the Karma (acts) of the day to him. Going outside at the fertilization period of the wife is sinful. During this time of the first four days Parvakal, Mul, Magha and Revati stars should be avoided for sex act. There should

be no sex act on the Shraddha day and during daytime. If these rules are followed, even a Grahastha is a Brahmachari (i.e. follower of Veda Shastras in sex act). One should not enjoy with an older female. There should be no feeling of despise, or grief at the time of the sex act. The Brahmins who behaved as instructed by Shri Guru attained good "Parlok". To Be Contd...Devotees Can Read This Book from The Book Section ofwww.Saileelas.org/books/ShriGuruCharitra.doc

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